After leaving the top NMFS job essentially vacant for months — and with well-respected UMass-Dartmouth marine sciences chief Brian Rothschild as the only remaining candidate — Lubchenco last week named Eric Schwaab of Catonsville, Md., to lead the $1-billion NMFS and its 3,000 employees.
It is, quite frankly, a choice that can only be viewed one way — as an arrogant slap to the face of fishing industry, and to the state and federal lawmakers rightfully pushing for changes in federal fishing regulation.
For all the hollow talk about "building bridges" with the fishing industry — and the laughable vow to address the IG's damning report on the NOAA law enforcement by holding a "summit" among NOAA agents, fishermen and environmental groups — Lubchenco's choice of Schwaab confirms she has no interest at all in working with the fishing industry. She shows no respect for fishing communities. And she shows no concern for the input or reaction from her own fishery management councils, let alone for taking the urgent steps needed to address the NOAA enforcement crisis.
Lubchenco had a glowing opportunity with this pick to heal her agency's dysfunctional relationship with the fishing industry and restore some confidence. Instead, she has destroyed what little confidence there remained in NOAA and in her administration.