WASHINGTON, D.C. – Ranking Member of the Senate Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries and Coast Guard U.S. Senator Olympia J. Snowe (R-Maine) today welcomed the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) decision to appoint a new interim director at the Office of Law Enforcement for the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). Senator Snowe learned of the decision in a one-on-one phone call with NOAA Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, Eric Schwaab, earlier this afternoon and released the following statement:
“Today's announcement by NOAA that it will pursue a replacement to lead the agency’s law enforcement branch is a vindication to the thousands of Northeast fishermen who bore the brunt of the egregious mismanagement recently discovered within all levels of NOAA’s law enforcement community,” said Senator Snowe. “Indeed, the Inspector General’s report shed light on deep-rooted systemic problems within the agency’s enforcement practice, and although it is regrettable that NOAA is only now taking action to remove the current director from his post, it is certainly a step in the right direction.”
Senator Snowe continued, “As the agency moves forward with its nationwide search to find a replacement, it is imperative the new director has substantial fisheries law enforcement experience and the caliber to successfully rectify the current flaws within the division and implement enforcement practices that will protect and preserve the fishing industry. I remain committed with my efforts in pursuing initiatives to guarantee our fishermen are treated fairly while necessary regulatory enforcement practices are carried out.”
Today’s action by NOAA is in response to a report released by the U.S. Department of Commerce Inspector General in January that outlined systemic nationwide issues adversely affecting NOAA’s ability to regulate the fishing industry. In addition, the report found that these same issues have “contributed significantly to a…dysfunctional relationship between NOAA and the fishing industry – particularly in the northeast.”