Letter to The Honorable Gary Locke, Secretary U.S. Department of Commerce

Letter

Congressman John Tierney today joined a bipartisan group of lawmakers in calling on Commerce Secretary Gary Locke to release a Special Master report on enforcement abuses against Massachusetts fisheries.

"Thirty days after Secretary Locke received this report for review, we are still waiting to hear whether or not the report recommends restitution to fishermen for the unfair treatment they suffered by NOAA officials," Congressman Tierney said. "Our local fishermen and their families have been asked to wait long enough. I hope the Secretary releases this information swiftly and transparently."

May 12, 2011

The Honorable Gary Locke, Secretary

U.S. Department of Commerce

1401 Constitution Avenue, N.W. Office # 5516

Washington, D.C. 20230

Dear Secretary Locke:

We write to you today to implore you to publicly release the report of Special Master Charles B. Swartwood on enforcement abuses in the New England fishery. After years of malfeasance, our fishermen deserve to know the recommendations of an independent, third party review in order to finally achieve some semblance of closure.

The Department of Commerce Inspector General's series of audit reports brought to light the high-level misuse of funds, inappropriate document shredding during an active investigation, and the deliberate targeting and fining of New England Fishermen. We commend the appointment of Judge Charles Swartwood as Special Master to review the cases highlighted by the Inspector General. We are also glad that you opened up the Special Master's review process to cases outside of the Inspector General's report after your earlier denial. We have no doubt that the Special Master's review was thorough and careful and these actions have started to mend the broken relationship between NOAA and New England fishermen.

However, we are now approaching thirty days since Special Master Swartwood transmitted his report to you. New England fishermen have waited long enough to know whether or not they are entitled to restitution for the outrageous and unfair treatment by NOAA officials. While we understand your need to review the sensitive information contained in the report, we respectfully request that you release the Special Master report to the public on May 15, 2011 regardless of whether or not you consider your review complete. Thirty days is an acceptable amount of time to review this information and it is essential to maintaining transparency in fisheries law enforcement.

Thank you for your attention to this urgent request. We await your reply.

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