The nation’s top fisheries cop was replaced Thursday after a federal review detailed mismanagement at his agency and found that he ordered dozens of files destroyed during the investigation.
Dale Jones was removed as director of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s law enforcement office and was replaced on an interim basis by Alan Risenhoover, head of NOAA’s Sustainable Fisheries Office.
In announcing the changes, NOAA Fisheries head Eric Schwabb said in an e-mail to employees, “Ensuring a fair and effective enforcement program is our focus moving forward.’’
It was unclear whether Jones was fired, put on leave or subjected to some other administrative action. An NOAA spokesman, citing privacy laws, said he could not comment on specific personnel moves.
U.S. Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., said the decision was “painful at NOAA, but it had to happen.’’
Read the Associated Press story in the Boston Globe.