WEEKLY UPDATE: 2/19/2012
by R.I.F.A. on 02/19/12
New this week:
Sen. Brown Exposes NOAA's Illicit Party Boat, Calls For Accountability
Washington, DC - February 17, 2012 -- Yesterday, U.S. Senator Scott Brown (R-MA) filed a Freedom of Information Act request for an Inspector General report on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) illicit purchase and use of a $300,000 luxury fishing boat. The request was granted, and today Senator Brown spoke from the Senate floor to reveal the numerous abuses detailed in the previously unknown findings of the Inspector General. Watch the Senator's address on the Senate floor
IG probe finds NOAA fund still not tracked
NOAA's Asset Forfeiture Fund, comprised of fines paid for Magnuson-Stevens Act fisheries violations, remains without controls that deter fraud, a newly published report by the U.S. Commerce Department inspector general has found. "NOAA has no assurance that all proceeds from assessed fines, penalties and forfeitures are received and accurately recorded," said the report, which was sent Feb. 8 to NOAA Administrator Jane Lubchenco by Ann C. Eileers, principal assistant IG for audit and evaluation.
NMFS budget expands catch share funding, stock assessment but decreases overall
The largest increase in funding ($36 million) goes to a new line called national catch share programs. However, the agency does not predict an increase in catch share programs over the next five years. Instead, most of this money is to pay for implementation, observer coverage, monitoring and other costs that cannot be passed on for cost recovery to the industry at this time, especially in the Northeast. Stock assessments and fisheries research will increase by $15 million. Also $3 million additional will be spent for recreational fisheries assessment and monitoring. One very negative feature in the budget is a transfer of about $17 million from cooperative research programs to the catch share program. Cooperative research is used for the payments NMFS makes to industry, often including matching industry funds, for work involving commercial vessel, gear modifications, and other developments which have had spectacular success in areas such as bycatch reduction. Many in the industry are strongly opposed to any weakening of commitments to cooperative research.
PETITION: The President of the United States: Fire NOAA's Jane Lubchenco, PhD
One of the investigations spurred by the IG's report was further investigation of NOAA's Asset Forfeiture Fund (AFF). The AFF is a fund supported by fines from fishermen. The money within that fund is supposed to contribute back to the fisheries in the form of research and conservation for the future of the profession. There were suggestions that the money in the fund was being improperly used (see Senator Scott Brown's youtube video for details) so a deeper investigation was conducted. On February 8, 2012, two years after his inital report, Mr. Zinser and his staff updated Dr. Lubchenco on the progress. While some positive changes have occurred, the AFF account still lacks basic accounting and monitoring standards met by most other private sector entities to run a successful and transparent business. Apparently, Dr. Lubchenco does not care what Congress and the IG have shown. Or about the lives of hard-working people her agenda driven policies have destroyed. Not a single person associated with the above-mentioned reports has been fired or even prosecuted! In fact, most offenders where either transferred to other positions or even given promotions on an international level! CLICK HERE TO SIGN THE PETITION
NOAA Seeks Public Comment on Groundfish Sector Operations Plans
The Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan requires sectors to submit their operations plans and contracts to NOAA for approval or disapproval. Approval of a sector operations plan and contract is necessary for that sector to be allocated fish, and allows the sector members to be exempted from certain effort control regulations. The deadline for public comment is March 1, 2012. NOAA is also notifying the public that deadline to join a sector for fishing year 2012 has been extended through April 30, 2012.
Mid-Atlantic Council Announces Extension of Visioning Initiative
The council announces an extension of the survey and comment deadline for its Visioning Initiative. For anyone interested in fisheries managed by the Council, survey responses can now be submitted until February 29, 2012.
Meetings:
DEM Public Notice Concerning Proposed Regulatory Changes - February 22
The public hearing will commence at 6:00 PM on Wednesday, February 22, 2012 in the University of Rhode Island, Graduate School of Oceanography, Corless Auditorium, South Ferry Road, Narragansett, RI 02882. Written comments concerning the regulations proposed for promulgation by the DEM may be submitted to the Division of Fish and Wildlife, 3 Fort Wetherill Road, Jamestown, RI 02835 no later than 12:00 PM on February 22, 2012.
Thousands of Coastal Fishermen to Rally in Washington DC on March 21
In another historic show of solidarity, U.S. recreational and commercial fishermen will gather at Upper Senate Park in Washington DC on March 21, 2012 starting at noon in an organized demonstration supporting sensible reform of the Magnuson Stevens Fisheries Conservation and Management Act. This is a follow-up to a rally in February of 2010 that brought some 5,000 recreational, commercial and party/charter vessel owners, fishermen and people in fisheries dependent businesses from all over the country to Washington. Twenty plus Members of the Senate and House of Representatives spoke regarding efforts to reform Magnuson.
These hearings are being scheduled in accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. During or after these hearings, additional opportunities for comments on the Amendment 5 Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) may be provided in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act. The agenda for the following eight hearings is as follows: NEFMC staff will brief the public on the herring amendment prior to opening the hearing for public comments. The schedule is as follows:
1. Friday, March 2, 2012 from 9 AM-1 PM; Samoset Hotel, 220 Warrenton Street, Rockport, ME 04856; telephone: (207) 594-2511.
2. Wednesday, March 14, 2012 from 7 PM-9 PM; Massachusetts Department of Marine Fisheries Annisquam River Station, 30 Emerson Ave., Gloucester, MA 01930; telephone: (978) 282-0308.
3. Thursday, March 15, 2012 from 7 PM-9 PM; Sheraton Harborside Hotel, 250 Market Street, Portsmouth, NH 03801; telephone: (603) 431-2300.
4. Monday, March 19, 2012 from 7 PM-9 PM; Seaport Inn, 100 Middle Street, Fairhaven, MA 02719; telephone: (508) 997-1281.
5. Wednesday, March 21, 2012 from 7 PM-9 PM; Holiday Inn by the Bay, 88 Spring Street, Portland, ME, 04101; telephone: (207) 775-2311.
6. Tuesday, March 27, 2012 from 7 PM-9 PM; Radisson Plymouth, 180 Water St., Plymouth, MA 02360; telephone: (508) 747-4900.
7. Wednesday, March 28, 2012 from 7 PM-9 PM; Hilton Garden Inn, One Thurber St., Warwick, RI 02886; telephone: (401) 734-9600.
8. Thursday, March 29, 2012 from 7 PM-9 PM; Congress Hall, 251 Beach Ave., Cape May, NJ 08204; telephone: (609) 884-8421.
