Great Lakes Fisheries Law Enforcement

Management of the Great Lakes fisheries involves a complex governance structure spanning nations, states, Tribal authorities, and local authorities.  These authorities are responsible for addressing the challenges facing the Great Lakes through promulgation of law and policy and implementation of practices that balance science-based evidence, scientific uncertainty, competing interests, and budgetary constraints in a multi-jurisdictional context.  All of the key issues facing the Great Lakes: allocation of fishery resources across commercial, recreational and Tribal interests; control of invasive species; and maintenance of Great Lakes water quality and habitat, are contingent on effective governance of the Great Lakes ecosystem.  An often overlooked component of this governance structure is the role of law enforcement.  Fishery allocations, ballast water restrictions, water quality, are governed by laws, the compliance to which is maximized through education, regulation, and enforcement (Randall 2004).        

This paper seeks to improve our understanding of effective governance of the Great Lakes fishery by considering the mission, structure, and processes of Great Lakes law enforcement.  We are limited by the lack of data on crime on the Great Lakes as well as by limited information on the multitude of agencies with some law enforcement jurisdiction related to the Great Lakes.  Consequently, our primary goal is to provide an overview of these issues to serve as a foundation for future research as well as to highlight the role of enforcement as part of the governance system for the Great Lakes.  We begin by addressing the structure of law enforcement related to the Great Lakes.  We next relate the role of enforcement to the major threats and risks facing the Great Lakes and the Great Lakes fishery in particular.  In an attempt to provide a snapshot of the nature and scope of enforcement activities on the Great Lakes, we then review a sample of enforcement actions.  We conclude by considering the future of Great Lakes law enforcement as well as the need for additional research on issues raised in this presentation.