Over the past several years, there has been an increasingly bitter adversarial relationship between the federal government and the commercial fishing industry, particularly in New England. The relationship has further deteriorated under Dr. Lubchenco. Shortly after Lubchenco's confirmation, the Massachusetts Congressional Delegation requested an Inspector General investigation of the law enforcement situation. The results were stunning and highly embarrassing for NOAA. The IG has revealed incompetent management, corrupt disposition of funds generated by fines and property seizures from fishermen, and vindictive enforcement of regulations.
The initial response from NOAA was to look forward, not backward. They would rewrite procedures and policies, improve communications, and become better custodians of the people's oceans. That is just bureaucratic double-speak for doing nothing substantive. Nobody would be punished, not in Dr. Lubchenco's NOAA. There would be no revisiting the improper fines and penalties identified by the IG; no fisherman would be made whole for inappropriate government aggressiveness. Nope. Let us put this nasty business behind us and get on with ruining the fishing industry.
Everything seemed normal until the IG's final report (previously linked) of 23 September 2010. And then — surprise! — Gary Locke became personally involved and appointed a Special Master to look into the IG's findings and determine "whether to take action to modify or remit the penalties." This was a direct contradiction of Dr. Lubchenco's approach and a major victory for the industry.
Read the complete opinion piece from American Thinker.