The federal agency long accused by marine fishermen of abusing its law-enforcement authority – a claim substantiated by an Inspector General's report released in January – has proposed policy changes that could standardize the way financial penalties are assessed to fishermen who break the law.
In its proposal, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) aims to "improve consistency at a national level, provide greater predictability for the regulated community and the public, improve transparency in enforcement, and more effectively protect natural resources."
Released Oct. 18, the 45-page document is available online and open for public comment until Dec. 20.
If adopted, the new policy would change NOAA practices in several major ways.
First, it would eliminate differences among enforcement practices in each of NOAA's six regional jurisdictions and create one national standard for the assessment of penalties.
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