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Joint Inter-Agency Task Force-South (JIATF-S)

Source: JIATF-S Website

Located at Naval Air Station in Key West, Florida, Joint Interagency Task Force South (JIATF South) conducts detection and monitoring operations throughout the Caribbean to facilitate the interdiction of illicit trafficking in support of the US (Coast Guard and Navy) and partner nations security, among them France and Netherlands who have national territories in this area. Coordinated operations aim at denying transnational criminal organizations the ability to exploit shipment routes for the movement of narcotics, precursor chemicals, bulk cash, human trafficking and weapons.

Coast Guard Functions
Prevention and Suppression of Trafficking and Smuggling and Connected Maritime Law Enforcement
Countries involved

European Coast Guard Functions Forum (ECGFF)

Source: ECGFF Website

The European Coast Guard Functions Forum (ECGFF) is a self-governing, non-binding, voluntary, independent and non-political forum bringing together the Coast Guard authorities from 25 EU Member States and Schengen associated countries, as well as representatives of the EU institutions and bodies with competencies related to EU CG Functions. Since its establishment in 2009 the European Commission and EU Agencies, have supported the ECGFF. The rotating chair, supported by a secretariat, governs the Forum with responsibility to implement the annual programme. Bringing together over 30 national coastguard authorities from EU countries and associated Schengen countries, it works on collaborative issues i.e. multi-agency, multinational operations and capacity building among CG academies.

Coast Guard Functions
Maritime Safety Including Vessel Traffic Management
Ship Casualty & Maritime Assistance Service
Fisheries Inspection & Control
Maritime Border Control
Maritime Environmental Protection & Response
Prevention and Suppression of Trafficking and Smuggling and Connected Maritime Law Enforcement
Maritime Search and Rescue
Maritime Monitoring and Surveillance
Maritime Customs Activities
Maritime Accident and Disaster Response
Maritime Ship and Port Security

Lisbon Agreement: Cooperation Agreement for the Protection of the Coasts and Waters of the Northeast Atlantic against Pollution

Source: Portugal DGPM Website

On 17 October 1990, Portugal, France, Morocco, Spain and the European Community signed the Lisbon Agreement, which is essentially a mechanism to ensure cooperation between the Contracting Parties in the event of a pollution incident. Such a pollution incident is a discharge or danger of a discharge of hydrocarbons or other harmful substances, which has occasioned or may occasion damage to the marine environment, the coast or the related interests of one or more of the Parties, and requiring emergency action or an immediate reaction. The Agreement establish the obligation on the Contracting Parties to create their own intervention agencies and to set their own national plans of action. An International Centre, located in Portugal, is assisting the Parties to react swiftly and effectively to pollution incidents.

Coast Guard Functions
Maritime Environmental Protection & Response
Maritime Accident and Disaster Response
Countries involved

European Association of Airport and Seaport Police (EAASP)

Source: EAASP Website

The EAASP aims to work in partnership through the mutual exchange of knowledge and practices to make the ports of Europe a safe environment for the communities they serve. The responsibility for the control of seaports within EAASP member countries lies, as it does with aviation, with national organisations. However, the EAASP Maritime Group (EMG) can, and does, play an important role in the coordination and implementation of joint security operations carried out by those organisations, as well as legislative changes relating to the management and security of seaports. The EMG promotes common standards and inter-operability, and aims to develop the exchange of information and intelligence.

Coast Guard Functions
Maritime Border Control
Maritime Ship and Port Security

Marine Accident Investigators International Forum (MAIIF)

Source: MAIIF Website

The Marine Accident Investigators’ International Forum (MAIIF) is an international non-profit organisation dedicated to the advancement of maritime safety and the prevention of marine pollution through the exchange of ideas, experiences and information acquired in marine accident investigation. It aims to promote and improve marine accident investigation, and to foster cooperation and communication between marine accident investigators. It aims to develop and sustain a co-operative relationship among national marine investigators in order to share knowledge in an international forum, and to improve maritime safety and the prevention of pollution via the dissemination of information from the investigative process. 

Coast Guard Functions
Maritime Accident and Disaster Response

North Atlantic Coast Guard Forum (NACGF)

Source: Defense Media Network

The North Atlantic Coast Guard Forum (NACGF), formed in 2007, aims to increase cooperation amongst member countries on maritime safety and security in the region. The NACGF is not policy or regulatory oriented, is non-binding, voluntary, and operates within existing legal frameworks. Its members are Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Latvia, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America. Estonia, Lithuania, and Poland have observer status.

Coast Guard Functions
Maritime Accident and Disaster Response
Maritime Border Control
Ship Casualty & Maritime Assistance Service
Fisheries Inspection & Control
Prevention and Suppression of Trafficking and Smuggling and Connected Maritime Law Enforcement
Maritime Environmental Protection & Response
Maritime Search and Rescue
Maritime Monitoring and Surveillance
Maritime Ship and Port Security
Maritime Customs Activities
Maritime Safety Including Vessel Traffic Management

Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre - Narcotics (MAOC-N)

Source: MAOC-N Website

The Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre – Narcotics (MAOC (N)), based in Lisbon, has 7 EU Member Countries: France, Ireland, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Portugal and the UK. It is co-funded by the Internal Security Fund of the EU and is a forum for multi-lateral cooperation to suppress illicit drug trafficking by sea and air. It is a European Law Enforcement unit with military support that coordinates maritime and aviation intelligence, resources and trained personnel to respond to the threat of illicit drug trafficking.

Coast Guard Functions
Prevention and Suppression of Trafficking and Smuggling and Connected Maritime Law Enforcement
Maritime Ship and Port Security
Maritime Customs Activities

Convention on Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR)

Source: CCAMLR Website

The Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) was established by international convention in 1982 with the objective of conserving Antarctic marine life. This was in response to increasing commercial interest in Antarctic krill resources, a keystone component of the Antarctic ecosystem and a history of over-exploitation of several other marine resources in the Southern Ocean. CCAMLR is an international commission with 26 Members, and a further 10 countries have acceded to the Convention. Based on the best available scientific information, the Commission agrees a set of conservation measures that determine the use of marine living resources in the Antarctic.

Coast Guard Functions
Fisheries Inspection & Control
Maritime Environmental Protection & Response

Coordination Centre for Anti-Drug Enforcement in the Mediterranean (CeCLAD-M)

Source: Légifrance

The Centre de Coordination de la Lutte Anti-drogue en Méditerranée, or Coordination Centre for Anti-Drug Enforcement in the Mediterranean area was established in 2008 during the French Presidency of the EU. It is based near Paris, France, and is closely modelled on MAOC-N in Lisbon. The centre aims to intercept drug trafficking from Northern and Western Africa in the Mediterranean.

Coast Guard Functions
Prevention and Suppression of Trafficking and Smuggling and Connected Maritime Law Enforcement
Maritime Customs Activities

Mediterranean Coast Guard Functions Forum (MCGFF)

Source: Secretariat General for the Sea - CGF Ops Center

The Mediterranean Coast Guard Functions Forum (MCGFF) is a non-binding, voluntary, independent and non-political forum bringing together representatives from institutions and agencies with related competencies in coast guard functions in the Mediterranean. The aim is to facilitate multilateral cooperation on a wide range of issues such as maritime safety, security and environmental protection activities as well as creating partnerships to share experience and best practices on common problems.

Coast Guard Functions
Maritime Safety Including Vessel Traffic Management
Ship Casualty & Maritime Assistance Service
Fisheries Inspection & Control
Maritime Border Control
Maritime Environmental Protection & Response
Prevention and Suppression of Trafficking and Smuggling and Connected Maritime Law Enforcement
Maritime Search and Rescue
Maritime Monitoring and Surveillance
Maritime Customs Activities
Maritime Accident and Disaster Response
Maritime Ship and Port Security

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