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 administers the Cooperative Enforcement Program (CEP) which authorizes certain coastal state and territorial marine conservation law enforcement agencies to enforce Federal laws and regulations in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). In exchange for funding to pay for personnel and equipment, 27 states and territories provide over 130,000 hours of marine conservation law enforcement each year through Joint Enforcement Agreements with the OLE.

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.