In response to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) decision to take immediate steps to strengthen and improve the Agency’s enforcement and legal operations within the fishing community, U.S. Senator Olympia J. Snowe, Ranking Member of the Senate Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries and Coast Guard, released the following statement today:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – "Today's announcement by NOAA that it will pursue both immediate and long-term actions to address the clear flaws in NOAA's law enforcement branch constitutes a step in the right direction," said Senator Snowe. "As fishermen know all too well, the Inspector General’s report shed light on a deep-rooted problem, and a sustained, concerted effort will be required to get NOAA's law enforcement branch back on track. I remain deeply troubled by the systemic problems exposed by the Inspector General's Report, and I will work hand-in-glove with fishermen and the Agency to ensure all stakeholders' concerns are addressed and those responsible for past mismanagement are held accountable."
Today’s action by NOAA comes on the heels of a recent report released by the U.S. Department of Commerce Inspector General that outlined systemic nationwide issues adversely affecting NOAA’s ability to regulate the fishing industry. In addition, the report found that these same issues have “contributed significantly to a…dysfunctional relationship between NOAA and the fishing industry – particularly in the northeast.”