The federal Department of Commerce seems poised to dive into a long-overdue, requested investigation into the enforcement of fishing regulations in the northeast.
But this is also not the time to expand the investigation’s focus to include National Marine Fisheries Service enforcement tactics across the entire nation. That would simply delay the probe and water it down.
So it was especially good to hear that, as the IG’s office sorts out its charge, the office itself is "independent" and does not feel bound by the investigation requests from congressional leaders, and the head of NMFS’ parent National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration herself.