Rich, am I correct here or confusing them with another agency....doesn't NOAA/NMFS have some pretty nice patrol boats down there in the Florida Keys? If it is the same branch I am thinking of, I would think some Coasties would find that a great part of the job.
Maybe I'm thinking of the Sanctuary patrol boats and I'm not sure if that is the same thing.
Don, The sanctuary is run by NOAA - National Ocean Service. They contract out patrol services with FL FWCC who run the boats. NMFS (NOAA-OLE) provides investigative support to the sanctuary.
NMFS does have a small fleet of patrol and UC vessels throughout the country but not every division has boats. Depending on field office location, agents may have the opportunity to be vessel operators on NMFS boats and/or conduct patrols with the USCG and state conservation agencies. All agents attend MLETP at FLETC.
An agent position with NMFS is first and foremost investigative just like any other 1811 position. The job is more about doing traditional investigative duties (interviews, surveillance, search warrants, seizures, examining evidence, UC, etc.) than on the water patrol though those opportunities do exist as stated above.
The last announcement with this many positions was October 2007. Preference eligible veterans may be exempt from the 37 age requirement, check the announcement.
