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Fisheries officer: Job description and activities

Job description

Fisheries officers are responsible for the conservation and protection of fisheries, whether freshwater or marine. They assist with the development of new fisheries and enforce fisheries legislation, which can involve preparing witness statements and occasionally speaking in court.

Freshwater fisheries officers conduct field survey work, including surveys of fish stocks and technical project work. They advise members of the public and industry about sustainable fishing and promote angling as a recreational activity.

Marine (or sea) fisheries officers manage, regulate, develop and protect the fisheries and work to sustain the marine environment. This includes inspecting fishing vessels at sea and enforcing technical conservation measures for juvenile and spawning fish.

Typical work activities

The work of a fisheries officer varies depending on employer and role, but for freshwater fisheries officers tasks typically include:

• regulating inland fish as well as salmon and sea trout up to the six nautical mile limit from the coast;
• enforcing the legislation of fish stocking;
• cautioning or arresting suspected offenders;
• preparing evidence, writing reports and witness statements and occasionally speaking in court;
• surveying fish stocks, ensuring the right fish are in the right places;
• conducting annual surveys of rivers;
• electro-fishing and netting;
• monitoring scientific data;
• writing reports;
• supporting recreational angling;
• contributing to habitat improvement schemes;
• communicating with and advising external bodies e.g. angling clubs, councils and fisheries owners;
• working with planning authorities, ensuring that new building does not have an adverse impact on river fisheries;
• conducting environmental impact assessments;
• approving and issuing licences for the movement of fish;
• keeping up to date with legislation and relevant scientific/technical developments.

Marine fisheries officers are typically involved with: 

• operating and maintaining large, small or inflatable boats;
• patrolling the coastline up to six nautical miles from the shore;
• stopping and searching fishing vessels in line with the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE);
• explaining European and national legislation and local bylaws to fishing crews;
• inspecting fish markets and premises in ports;
• handling fish and shellfish;
• sampling biological specimens;
• managing special stock recovery measures for 'at risk' fish stocks;
• providing advice to members of the public, fishing crews and offshore fish farm managers.

AGCAS

Written by Rachel Howlett, University of York

Last updated:

March 2009

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