By Matt Viser, Globe Staff
WASHINGTON – Representative Barney Frank today called for the resignation of one of President Obama’s top fishing, ocean, and weather advisers.
Frank said that Jane Lubchenco, head of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, should be replaced following an inspector general’s report that found misconduct within the agency.
“I believe the time has come to appoint a new head of…NOAA, and put somebody in there who’s really going to embrace what we need,” Frank said during an appearance on New Bedford-based WBSM-AM. “I think it’s time for Lubchenco to go.”
Frank has also clashed with Lubchenco over increasing fishing stocks that are considered vital to New Bedford’s fishing industry.
An audit released last week detailed how fishing regulators misspent millions of dollars that were collected from fines on fishermen. The money went toward items such as a $300,000 luxury undercover boat, cars for managers, and a weeklong training workshop in Norway.
The audit, conducted by the US Commerce Department’s Inspector General’s office, came after complaints from fishermen that fishing laws were being arbitrarily enforced.
In a statement, Lubchenco defended her tenure, saying that she had asked for the audit of the agency, and is implementing several changes in response.