Commerce Secretary Gary Locke announced that $649,527 in fisheries enforcement penalties will be returned to 11 individuals or businesses.
WASHINGTON – May 17, 2011 – U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke and NOAA Administrator Jane Lubchenco apologized to New England fishermen who were wronged by inappropriate and excessive enforcement actions enacted by NOAA enforcement staff for more than a decade.
Commerce Secretary Gary Locke announced that $649,527 in fisheries enforcement penalties will be returned to 11 individuals or businesses after an independent review of their cases concluded the NOAA enforcement program had in some instances "overstepped the bounds of propriety and fairness." In his decision memo issued today, Secretary Locke acted on 30 cases reviewed by the Special Master, Judge Charles Swartwood III, accepting all of his recommendations that the law allows and taking additional actions in several cases. Secretary Locke appointed Judge Swartwood to conduct the independent review of cases identified by the Department of Commerce's Inspector General as problematic. The individuals and businesses will receive their remittances within 30 days of receipt of payment information.
Read the Special Master's Report
Read coverage in the Gloucester Times by Richard Gaines
Read the Commerce Dept./NOAA press release
See a list of the enforcement reforms.
See a timeline of enforcement actions.
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