Gloucesterโs state legislators yesterday asked the state secretary of energy and environmental affairs about the contract that allows federal fishery law enforcers to "deputize" state Environmental Police personnel in actions against Massachusetts fishermen.
State Sen. Bruce Tarr and state Rep. Ann-Margaret Ferrante wrote to Ian Bowles, whose secretariat includes the Environmental Police, seeking information about the agencyโs pact with the National Marine Fisheries Service, whose enforcement activities have inflamed worries within state government of "coercive" and "vindictive" behavior.
"Weโve been concerned about a growing pattern of impropriety and aggression by NMFS law enforcement and were aware that the state was connected by virtue of a contract," the legislators wrote.
Read the complete story at Gloucester Times.