Representatives from three government agencies in charge of enforcement operations joined Greenpeace's Senior Ocean Campaigner for a discussion on how to enforce the laws that protect endangered marine species.
The Environmental Law Institute hosted this event on "Ocean and Coastal Law Enforcement: Enforcing Protected Species Laws in the Marine Environment"
According to the group, "compliance is critical to the successful conservation and protection of marine mammals and threatened and endangered marine species. Compliance can be achieved through a variety of mechanisms including the use of enforcement to halt and deter illegal actors."
Two statutes govern the majority of marine life protection. The Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Endangered Species Act require compliance in 3 million square miles of ocean in U.S. waters, and the use of trade barriers to protect species in international waters.
Panelists included: Tracy Dunn, Acting Deputy Director of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Office of Law Enforcement; Phil Kline, Senior Ocean Campaigner at Greenpeace U.S.A.; Steven Tucker, Deputy Chief for Marine Protected Species for the U.S. Coast Guard; and John Webb, Former Assistant Chief of the Environment and Natural Resources Section at the U.S. Department of Justice.
Jordan Diamond, staff attorney and deputy director of the Ocean Program at the Environmental Law Institute, moderated the discussion.