Fisheries Officer
What the work is
Inspects fishing vessels, gear, licences and catches to ensure that fisheries laws and regulations are obeyed.
Would you enjoy the work?
These are the main tasks in the official description. Mark how each one sounds to you.
- Patrols and investigates waterways for unlawful fishing activities and the removal of protected marine life
- Conducts inspections of fishing vessels, gear and equipment to ensure compliance with laws and regulations
- Checks fishing licences and permits to ensure validity
- Monitors and records fishing catches to ensure compliance with catch limits and quotas
- Investigates and responds to reports of illegal fishing activities
- Provides advice and guidance to fishers on sustainable fishing practices
- Educates, advises and provides information on a wide range of topics relating to fish and their protection
- May initiate or assist in legal action to enforce regulations
Try it
A simulation and a case study from this kind of work, set in a biosecurity inspection shed at a fictional regional airport and a nearby farming district. They are fictional.
The kind of days you could have
Good days
- You stop a pest at the border before it reaches a single farm
- A farmer rings to say your advice saved a season's crop
- A lab result comes back and confirms your hunch from the paddock
Hard days
- A traveller who is tired and angry about having their bag searched
- A producer who believes your rules are costing them money
- Early starts, long drives and standing in the weather to look at crops or animals
Written by Career Calling as a general guide. Real roles vary by employer and place.
Work a mission
Step into a simulated workplace in this field, with a brief from your manager.
Description and tasks: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Occupation Standard Classification for Australia, 2024, Version 1.0 (opens another site), occupation 311135, used under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. The skill guide above is our plain English summary.