Partnerships
with various agencies, councils, non-governmental environmental
organizations and other organizations are important measures
the OLE employs to successfully conduct its mission and assist
those with similar management, enforcement and conservation
missions. Eight Regional Fishery Management Councils consisting
of representatives from industry, non-governmental organizations,
fishermen, and NOAA Fisheries personnel are partnered together
in the management of the nation's fisheries.
The U.S. Coast Guard continues to be OLE's strongest
partner in enforcing marine resource laws and fishery management.
The cooperative support from the USCG enables OLE special
agents and enforcement officers to actively respond to cases
and calls that might otherwise be unattainable.
OLE also maintains tight working-relationships with the
U.S. Customs Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug
Enforcement Agency, Department of Justice, and the Food and
Drug Administration.
Agreements with various other federal, state, tribal, interstate
and international organizations further enhance the effectiveness
of OLE. The OLE has also federally-deputized environmental
officers in 23 coastal states and territories through numerous
Joint Enforcement Agreements (JEAs).
These partnerships allow for a more aggressive stance on
marine resource law In support of these partnerships, OLE
agents and officers maintain close working relationships
with state environmental enforcement officers. OLE agents
and officers collaborate with their state counterparts on
investigations, patrols, inspections, serving warrants and
conducting arrests.
While formal partnerships are established with numerous
governmental and law enforcement agencies, each divisional
office also maintains informal partnerships with various
environmental, educational and civic organizations. With
the increase in Homeland Security and cross-agency collaboration,
the OLE's expertise has been applied to various task
forces and security activities including border operations,
checkpoints, dock patrols and inter-agency meetings.