August 5, 2014 — The New York inspector general's office plans to conclude its two-year probe of a state fisheries regulator "imminently," but fishermen and their advocates awaiting long-promised action say they are losing patience.
Three state legislators from Long Island have written to Inspector General Catherine Leahy Scott, noting that they first requested a probe of the state Department of Environmental Conservation in May 2012, and that "no report has been issued."
"Estimated release dates have come and gone," Assemb. Fred Thiele Jr. (I-Sag Harbor), and state Sens. Kenneth LaValle (R-Port Jefferson) and Lee Zeldin (R-Shirley) wrote in June, requesting an update.
Thiele said in an interview that the "virtual silence about the status of this investigation for the last year has been very puzzling. At this point we have no idea when this matter will be concluded. Both the local fishermen and the DEC deserve closure."
Fishermen have told investigators of a broad range of alleged improprieties and impediments to fishing by the DEC, according to interviews with Newsday and a source close to the probe. The fishermen have complained about improper seizures of fish without search warrants, restrictions on transferring fishing permits and moratoriums on new licenses.
Leahy Scott, in a response to the lawmakers, noted her probe "addresses other" issues beyond those raised in Thiele's original complaint.
In addition, she wrote, her office has worked with the DEC closely to "implement corrective action on these broader issues" before releasing the report. She said she expected the investigation and "corrective action" to be concluded "imminently," and that a public report would follow "soon."
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