Seven days after President Obama nominated him as ambassador to China, Commerce Secretary Gary F. Locke publicly reversed an earlier decision that adversely affected some Massachusetts fishermen, constituents of Democratic Sen. John F. Kerry. Mr. Locke made the change after two weeks of intense lobbying by Mr. Kerry, who will chair his confirmation hearing Thursday.
Mr. Locke, whose department regulates fishing within 200 miles of the U.S. coast, agreed to two major concessions sought by Mr. Kerry for fishermen accused of violations who felt they had been victims of overzealous enforcement and excessive penalties by federal officials.
He agreed to give fishermen who had not filed complaints another chance to have their cases reviewed for fairness by a special investigator and to possibly get their fines returned or reduced. He also agreed the fishermen could ask to stay the payment of any pending fines while a special investigator reviewed the cases.
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