North Carolina Fisheries Ass'n, Inc. v. Brown

OPINION AND ORDER

DOUMAR, District Judge.

This case involves a challenge to a final rule promulgated by Ronald H. Brown, Secretary of Commerce (“Secretary”), which imposes a moratorium on the possession and harvesting of Atlantic Coast weakfish (“weakfish”) in the Exclusive Economic Zone (“EEZ”). The parties bringing this challenge, a coalition of fishermen and seafood processors, joined by a sovereign state, seek a permanent injunction to prevent enforcement of the rule. Because the Court concludes that the Secretary acted in excess of his statutory authority, the Court will grant their…