Secretary Ian Bowles issued the following Patrick Administration statement in response to the Inspector General's report on NOAA enforcement and urged NOAA to visit Massachusetts fishing communities as part of its planned public summit in response to the report. BOSTON Jan 21, 2010— Governor Patrick and I are pleased that Dr. Lubchenco sought this report and is taking action to correct NOAA’s enforcement procedures. We have raised concerns at the highest levels about the abuses in enforcement that have now been documented in dramatic fashion by the Inspector General’s report, and the economic and social impact they have had on our struggling fishing industry. I encourage NOAA to visit Massachusetts fishing communities as part of its planned public summit.
