The US Inspector General opined that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has been less than fair when enforcing fishing rules in New England. Tom Dempsey, a policy analyst at Cape Cod Commercial Hook Fisherman’s Association, said that the report came back validating the opinions and personal experience of a lot of our fishermen.
Fishermen were constantly saying that it is an unfair system plagued by heavy-handed enforcement. In the report, released Jan. 21, the inspector general didn’t investigate individual cases (they lacked the time) but examined the general flow of regulation. NOAA administrator Jane Lubchenco said that she want a comprehensive approach to addressing both the IG’s observations and the perceptions of fishermen. Fish are a public resource that should be protected through proper regulation and enforcement.
The inspector general felt NOAA failed to adequately manage an enforcement program that dished out seemingly arbitrary penalties and fines. Fines in the Northeast from 2004-09 were $5.5 million, more than 2 1/2 times higher than the next greatest region.
Dempsey said that fishermen are not opposed to rules. He added that everyone agrees we need to ensure compliance with fishing regulations. The report states that the perception exists that NOAA is intentionally putting small fishermen out of business in favor of corporate fishing entities. Sector management – which is scheduled to begin this year – has caused substantial concern within the Northeast commercial fishing community; fishermen fear that it will drive small-boat owners out of the industry.
