Federal fisheries chief Eric Schwaab says a sweeping review of Northeast management will focus on how the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, its regional fisheries science center and New England managers can work together and better fulfill their missions.
"This is something Fortune 500 companies do all the time, not because they believe they are performing poorly but because they want to ensure they do not miss opportunities to perform better,'' said Schwaab, NOAA's assistant administrator for fisheries.
But the review comes after a year of vociferous complaints from fishermen and coastal members of Congress, who say NOAA has fumbled management of key species at the expense of fishing communities. A NOAA inspector general's report this year found fault with the agency's law enforcement division, and a retired federal magistrate was appointed last week to review a number of controversial penalties against fishermen.
Read the complete story from The Asbury Park Press.