North Carolina Congressman Walter B. Jones, a Republican who's joined the likes of Massachusetts Democrats Barney Frank and John Tierney in taking on federal fisheries management, has stepped up the call for reforming how the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration handles money and other assets taken in from fishing violations.
In a letter early this month to NOAA chief Administrator Jane Lubchenco, Jones — whose district includes North Carolina's Outer Banks and who serves on the Armed Services and Financial Services committees — cited a recent audit commissioned by the Inspector General's Office that highlighted agency shortcomings.
"It also proved what fishermen have long suspected," he wrote, asserting that "allowing NOAA Fisheries to retain the proceeds from forfeitures, seizures, fines and penalties against fishermen gives the agency a perverse incentive to continue its abusive enforcement practices against fishermen."
Jones suggested there was no room for compromise.
"This conflict of interest must be eliminated," Jones wrote. "While the draft policy includes encouraging elements, it unfortunately falls short of that goal," the congressman wrote.
Read the complete story from The Gloucester Daily Times.