Primary Duties: 



"The Coast Guard shall enforce or assist in the enforcement of all 

 applicable Federal laws on and under the high seas and waters 

 subject to the jurisdiction of the United States; shall administer 

 laws and promulgate and enforce regulations for the promotion of 

 safety of life and property on and under the high seas and waters 

 subject to the jurisdiction of the United States covering all 

 matters not specifically delegated by law to some other executive 

 department; shall develop, establish, maintain, and operate, with 

 due regard to the requirements of national defense, aids to maritime 

 navigation, icebreaking facilities, and rescue facilities for the 

 promotion of safety on, under, and over the high seas and waters 

 subject to the jurisdiction of the United States; shall, pursuant 

 to international agreements, develop, establish, maintain, and 

 operate icebreaking facilities on, under, and over waters other 

 than the high seas and waters subject to the jurisdiction of the 

 United States; shall engage in oceanographic research on the high 

 seas and in waters subject to the jurisdiction of the United States; 

 and shall maintain a state of readiness to function as a specialized 

 service in the Navy in time of war." 



The Florida Keys are part of the 7th U. S. Coast Guard District with 

 headquarters in Miami, Florida. Group Key West, based in Key West, Florida, 

 has the enforcement responsibility for the Florida Keys, including the Looe 

 Key reef area. 



The extent to which the Coast Guard can provide effective enforcement 

 of marine laws on the high seas depends on the number of personnel, boats 

 and other equipment at their disposal and the complexity of the missions 

 assigned to them. 



There are three Coast Guard Stations on the Keys; Key West, Marathon and 

 Islamorada, with less than 75 personnel. Eighty percent of their missions 

 deal with search and rescue operations. Their law enforcement resources are 

 as follows: 



Key West: 2 41' boats - 21 personnel 



Marathon: 2 40' boats - 21 personnel 



several small boats 



Islamorada: 2 40' boats - 28 personnel 



In addition to search and rescue operations, their missions can include: 



Enforcement of Customs laws with respect to smuggling (primarily drugs); 



Enforcement of Immigration laws with respect to refugees; 



Establishing and maintaining aids to navigation in navigable waters and 

 on the high seas; 



Environmental clean-up of toxic and hazardous substances in accordance 

 with the Federal Water Pollution Control Act. 



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