WASHINGTON (Saving Seafood) May 17, 2011 — Approximately 30 days ago, Commerce Secretary Gary Locke received Special Master Charles Swartwood's report on law enforcement cases reviewed by the Office of the Inspector General.
Later today Secretary Locke will make an announcement on his response to the Special Master's report.
Also today, NOAA Administrator Jane Lubchenco and NMFS Director Eric Schwaab will be in Gloucester, Massachusetts to discuss these changes with NOAA employees and the fishing community.
According to a Commerce Department e-mail to Congressional staff, the Secretary's decisions are "part of a top-to-bottom review of NOAA's enforcement program and sweeping reforms begun nearly two years ago."
At 1:15 p.m. today, prior to the public announcement, Congressional staff will be briefed, and will receive hardcopies of the report and other documents related to the Secretary's announcement.
The Congressional briefing will be conducted by Cam Kerry, General Counsel of the Commerce Department; April Boyd, Assistant Commerce Secretary for Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs, and Monica Medina, Principal Deputy Commerce Under Secretary for NOAA.