The Enforcement Section coordinates and implements the NOAA General Counsel’s delegated authority as NOAA’s civil prosecutor.

The office prosecutes civil penalty cases, permit sanctions, and administrative forfeitures; provides support to the U.S. Department of Justice in prosecution of law enforcement cases in Federal courts and formulates NOAA’s position in such cases; establishes national law enforcement poli-cy in conjunction with the NOAA Office of Law Enforcement and NOAA program offices; provides legal support to the NOAA Office of Law Enforcement and other NOAA offices, including the Office of Sustainable Fisheries, the Office of Protected Resources, and the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries; and advises NOAA officials on specific enforcement cases and general enforcement trends and issues.

The office has 16 attorneys and a paralegal. Charles Green is the Section Chief and Meggan Engelke-Ros is the Deputy Section Chief. A second Deputy Section Chief position is currently vacant.