That may be unfair. A Harvard-educated environmental scientist, Lubchenco was a highly qualified leader whose often-well-reasoned policies were undermined by a notable lack of political savvy.

Now that Lubchenco's critics have gotten their way, however, the question is whether NOAA can build a two-way street between the scientific research community and the long-suffering Northeast groundfishing industry. Many of the fishing limits NOAA imposed during her tenure, including next year's impending major cut for cod, were legitimate efforts to preserve endangered fish stocks that were based on the available scientific assessments. But Lubchenco was never able to deliver the message in a way that empathized with the legitimate plight of multi-generation fishing families who felt the government was heartlessly driving them out of business.