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.