Nation’s top fisheries cop replaced after documents shredded, review finds mismanagement
By APThursday, April 8, 2010
Top US fisheries cop replaced after paper shred
BOSTON — The nation’s top fisheries cop has been replaced after a federal review detailed mismanagement at his agency and found he ordered files destroyed during the review.
U.S. Sen. John Kerry’s Boston office said Thursday that Dale Jones has been replaced with Alan Risenhoover, head of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s sustainable fisheries office.
Kerry calls the move “an important step to clear the air and turn the page.”
Jones was head of the NOAA office charged with enforcing the nation’s complicated fishing regulations.
The review came after Northeast fishermen complained of unfair treatment. It found an appearance of arbitrary enforcement and couldn’t account for how collected fines were spent.
Officials also said Jones ordered documents shredded after he was told about the review. Jones says the shredding was planned long before.
