Fisheries Officer Duties & Responsibilities
The role and function of a Fisheries Officer includes the following duties and responsibilities:
- Communicating with and advising external bodies, e.g. angling clubs, councils and fisheries owners;
- Keeping up to date with legislation and relevant scientific/technical developments.
- Approving and issuing licences for the movement of fish;
- Electro-fishing and netting;
- Monitoring scientific data;
- Writing reports;
- Surveying fish stocks, ensuring the correct type and amount of fish are in the right places;
- Conducting annual surveys of rivers;
- Working with planning authorities to ensure new building developments do not have an adverse impact on river fisheries;
- Conducting environmental impact assessments;
- Supporting recreational angling;
- Contributing to habitat improvement schemes;
- Patrolling the coastline up to six nautical miles from the shore;
- Inspecting fish markets and premises in ports;
- Stopping and searching fishing vessels;
- Operating and maintaining large, small or inflatable boats;
- Handling fish and shellfish;
- Managing special stock recovery measures for ‘at risk’ fish stocks;
- Providing advice to members of the public, fishing crews and offshore fish farm managers.
- Sampling biological specimens;
- Analysing data and producing reports;
Note that this is not an exhaustive list of Fisheries Officer duties and responsibilities. Job functions for specific Fisheries Officer roles may vary, depending on the industry and type of employer.
