NOAA Fisheries Service Office for Law Enforcement initiated the Joint Enforcement Agreement program in 2002 under the Cooperative Enforcement Agreement (CEA) program, to assist in funding operational and outreach activities which serve in the protection and conservation of our nation's marine resources.

Since 2002, the OLE has granted over $63.6 million to 25 U.S. state, territory and commonwealth law enforcement partners in support of the OLE mission. In Fiscal Year 2006, over $14 million was disbursed to our partners in exchange for over 87,000 hours of enforcement activities.

In March 2003, the US Department of Commerce's Office of the Inspector General issued a report and made specific recommendations regarding the Office for Law Enforcement's Cooperative Enforcement Agreement Program, and in particular, the Joint Enforcement Agreements which OLE manages.

Specifically, the report noted that “ OLE needs to prepare clear and specific guidance for the JEA program that sets forth program goals, priorities, and requirements; spending guidelines; agreement approval and evaluation criteria; and federal and state agency rules and responsibilities. OLE also needs to increase its verification of state-level reporting and conduct site visits to evaluate program activities. ”

This Program Manual is intended to address those and other OIG recommendations and to provide information and guidance to OLE personnel and OLE's state and territorial partners.

For additional information contact: Michael Fry, Cooperative Enforcement Agreement (CEA) Program Manager at: 301-427-2300 or Michael.fry@noaa.gov

2008 Cooperative Enforcement Agreement Program Manual