Sir Tim Smith
Overview of the Work of a Fisheries Officer
General Role
NSW Industry and Investment (I&I NSW) is responsible for conserving, sharing and managing the fisheries resources of New South Wales.
The work of fisheries officers involves optimising compliance with fisheries laws established by the Fisheries Management Act 1994 and associated regulations and in some areas Commonwealth fisheries legislation. Duties include field-based work (patrols and inspections) and an educative/advisory role in delivering information and advice on programs relating to any number of fisheries issues involving recreational and commercial fishers and the wider community.
Compliance activities include patrols of offshore waters, estuaries and inland freshwater rivers, lakes and impoundments. Patrols can include driving 4-wheel drive vehicles in difficult terrain and travelling by aircraft and seagoing vessels.
Fisheries officers inspect recreational fishers’ catches to check legal lengths and bag limits and compliance with other laws of recreational fishing. Commercial fishers are also checked to ensure that they’re operating within licensing conditions and that catches, equipment and vessels meet legal requirements.
Fisheries officers patrol waters closed to fishing, inspect and report on oyster leases and other aquaculture, and investigate conservation issues such as habitat destruction and damage to marine vegetation.
Fisheries officers perform administrative duties, such as maintaining records, preparing correspondence; entering data into activity reporting and intelligence databases, preparing work rosters and work plans, information papers, briefs and reports.
Fisheries officers also have to maintain the equipment they use such as boats and trailers, vehicles and specialised equipment.
Law Enforcement
Fisheries officers provide a regulatory function including the issuing of cautions or infringement notices for minor fisheries offences and the preparation of offence reports
General Role
NSW Industry and Investment (I&I NSW) is responsible for conserving, sharing and managing the fisheries resources of New South Wales.
The work of fisheries officers involves optimising compliance with fisheries laws established by the Fisheries Management Act 1994 and associated regulations and in some areas Commonwealth fisheries legislation. Duties include field-based work (patrols and inspections) and an educative/advisory role in delivering information and advice on programs relating to any number of fisheries issues involving recreational and commercial fishers and the wider community.
Compliance activities include patrols of offshore waters, estuaries and inland freshwater rivers, lakes and impoundments. Patrols can include driving 4-wheel drive vehicles in difficult terrain and travelling by aircraft and seagoing vessels.
Fisheries officers inspect recreational fishers’ catches to check legal lengths and bag limits and compliance with other laws of recreational fishing. Commercial fishers are also checked to ensure that they’re operating within licensing conditions and that catches, equipment and vessels meet legal requirements.
Fisheries officers patrol waters closed to fishing, inspect and report on oyster leases and other aquaculture, and investigate conservation issues such as habitat destruction and damage to marine vegetation.
Fisheries officers perform administrative duties, such as maintaining records, preparing correspondence; entering data into activity reporting and intelligence databases, preparing work rosters and work plans, information papers, briefs and reports.
Fisheries officers also have to maintain the equipment they use such as boats and trailers, vehicles and specialised equipment.
Law Enforcement
Fisheries officers provide a regulatory function including the issuing of cautions or infringement notices for minor fisheries offences and the preparation of offence reports