April 26 2011 – The National Marine Fisheries Service Tuesday released a study from an independent researcher citing a wide range of flaws and weaknesses in the functioning of New England's regulatory and science systems.
The targeted elements include the New England regional office of NMFS, based in Gloucester's Blackburn Industrial Park, the New England Fishery Management Council, based in Newburyport, and the Northeast Fisheries Science Center in Woods Hole.
Especially pointed were criticisms of the science center, whose director, Nancy Thompson, resigned last week, announcing in an e-mail that she was leaving "to pursue new challenges at NOAA."
"There is a void in leadership, lack of clear direction on management priorities and philosophy, and poor collaboration with external partners," said Preston Pate, the author of the report. Pate is the former chairman of the Atlantic States Fisheries Commission.
Read the complete story from The Gloucester Times.