US commerce chief orders review of questionable penalties against fishermen

Commerce chief: Fishery penalties to be reviewed

BOSTON — The U.S. commerce secretary has ordered a review of questionable penalties assessed against fishermen by the nation’s troubled fishery enforcement office.

Gary Locke announced Thursday he would appoint a special master to look at 19 problematic cases identified Thursday by his office’s inspector general.

The review of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s fishery enforcement division was prompted by years of complaints from Northeast fishermen of unfair treatment.

The final report was released Thursday, but a preliminary report in January prompted an audit that revealed widespread mismanagement, including the misuse of fines collected from fishermen to buy items such as a luxury undercover boat.

Locke also says he’s further restricting how NOAA can use the fines so the money can “never be perceived as being an expense account for law enforcement.”