Scott Brown Criticizes NOAA

ThirdAge.com: Scott Brown Criticizes NOAA
Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown blasted fishing regulators Monday in a speech at a Senate subcommittee.

According to Brown, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) unfairly victimizes fishermen through its office of law enforcement.

“Many [fishermen] tell me that NOAA regards them as criminals instead of a legitimate and valued regulated industry,” he said. “While I again want to emphasize that our fishing regulations must be enforced, we must not forget that fishing is about catching fish, where 96 percent of violations are civil matters. The tone and the tenor of enforcement must reflect this.”

Brown cited examples of NOAA agents carrying guns and launching investigations as criminal pursuits when the matter essentially involved issuing tickets. He pointed to the Federal Aviation Administration, which has no criminal investigators although the scale of potential disaster is much greater.

The senator also had words for NOAA on its asset forfeiture fund, $40 million of which is still unaccounted for. Commerce Department Inspector General Todd Zinser said the administration now has a successful one-year audit, but Brown remained unimpressed with what he believed to be a low standard.

He wants to create legislation that will return the asset forfeiture fund to the Treasury and force NOAA to undergo a congressional review of its budget.

Wanting to stave off such measures, Zinser recommended an annual report of expenses in order to satisfy critics.

The hearing was attended by 75 people, though NOAA administrator Jane Lubchenco was not present.