| "Not only are they important for enforcement, but they also provide a lot of public education. They are very useful and necessary for the department." | |
| Roieanne Salles, Puerto Rico Coastal Zone Management Program |
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The enforcement of coastal regulations can be a challenge for coastal resource managers who are juggling time, money, and staff. The government of Puerto Rico is supporting coastal regulatory enforcement by providing a large corps of specially trained rangers who patrol the island's coastal zone.
"They are an important part of our department," said Roieanne Salles, technical assistant for the Puerto Rico Coastal Zone Management Program. "Not only are they important for enforcement, but they also provide a lot of public education. They are very useful and necessary for the department."
The 400-member Rangers Corps was created by the Puerto Rico government as part of the Department of Natural Resources, said Captain Felix Salas, acting director of the Rangers Corps. He said 160 Rangers are dedicated to enforcing the coastal zone program's regulations. The coastal program oversees the management of 700 miles of shoreline, territorial waters, and submerged lands. The other 240 Rangers work outside the coastal zone in forests and parks.
The Rangers dedicated to the coastal area are split into seven zones, and spend much of their time patrolling, either by boat or land vehicle, Captain Salas said. He said part of the Rangers' duties include looking for illegal construction and the filling of wetlands, ensuring fishermen comply with catch limits, and monitoring the nesting sites of endangered species, such as sea turtles.
Once a Ranger determines that a violation has occurred, they turn the information over to the Department of Natural Resources' legal department for prosecution, or refer the cases to other regulatory agencies, Captain Salas said. The Corps has an agreement with other agencies to enforce laws related to the coastal jurisdiction, which gives them the power to write tickets for boating violations.
The Rangers also conduct public education programs for both children and adults. "They do a lot of work with the community and kids," Salles said. "Because they are out dealing with the public, they wind up doing a lot of public relations-type activities."
To qualify to become a Ranger, candidates must be between the ages of 19 and 36, have a high school diploma, and have at least 60 college credits. Once selected for the Corps, candidates are trained for three months at the police academy. Ranger training emphasizes environmental laws, natural resources, and conservation, as well as how to deal with the public. Training continues year-round, much of it conducted by the coastal program's staff, Captain Salas said.
"They have a positive impact on the public, but we still need to educate people," Captain Salas said. "One of the idiosyncrasies of Puerto Rico is that people use the land and use the resources, but don't understand the impact they have. We're here to help them comply with the laws, but also to show them they have a role to play. We're always working to provide more training for the Rangers, and more education for the people."
For more information on the Rangers Corps, contact Captain Felix Salas at (787) 725-1202.
