The spotlight was cast on the fishing industry last week, with the arrival of a congressional delegation that held a special hearing and the announcement of the settlement of a contentious fine levied against the largest fish auction in Gloucester.
The hearing, led by US representatives John Tierney, Barney Frank, and Dennis Kucinich, focused on alleged mismanagement by top managers of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which oversees the nation’s oceans and fisheries.
At the meeting, NOAA’s head, Jane Lubchenco, promised to investigate allegations by US Inspector General Todd Zinser that the agency’s law enforcement arm had acted autonomously while assessing more than $5 million in fines to New England fishermen from 2004-2009.