CLF's action is not surprising. These groups like to be seen as champions of the environment. But they are, above all, high-pressure, nonprofit lobbyists. And they're not particularly friendly to any real public scrutiny — as CLF is clearly showing here.
Consolidated lawsuits now pending in U.S. District Court — brought by fishermen, the cities of Gloucester and New Bedford and other industry representatives — are not only challenging the imposition of the catch share system.
As part of that suit, the plaintiffs are seeking the right to conduct "discovery" of communications and any collaboration between federal officials and environmental groups — like the Environmental Defense Fund, which has a huge investment in the federal catch share policy, the Pew Environmental Group — on the road to putting these policies in place.
At the root of the request, of course, is the need to find out whether any or all of these groups had or were granted any undue influence in the creation of this federal policy and mandates. And the need for such discovery ought to be well evident to Judge Rya Zobel — the current head of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Jane Lubchenco, is a former vice-chairwoman of the EDF board.
But the Conservation Law Foundation is actively seeking to block that discovery, by filing a brief arguing against the plaintiffs' request.
CLF's action is not surprising. These groups like to be seen as champions of the environment.
But they are, above all, high-pressure, nonprofit lobbyists. And they're not particularly friendly to any real public scrutiny — as CLF is clearly showing here.
The likely "inconvenient truth" is that CLF wants to keep its involvement secret because it and its anti-fishing Big Green allies have something to hide. And how ironic is it that this is a group with the word "Law" in its name. By seeking to limit discovery and thus suppress evidence, CLF is clearly showing that it believes the law is not something to be obeyed, but manipulated to serve an agenda.
Read the complete opinion piece from the Gloucester Times.