Job expectations and requirements for fishery officers
Learn about the working and employment conditions for fishery officers.
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Working conditions
There are risks associated with the role of a fishery officer. Expect physical and psychological extremes in this line of work.
Physical
In addition to the weight of your own gear (soft body armour, duty belt and enforcement tools), you'll often have to lift, carry and maneuver items weighing more than 20 kilograms, such as:
- fish and fishing gear such as lobster traps
- duffle bags and knapsacks filled with specialized equipment
- maneuvering ATVs, snowmobiles or canoes
These physical requirements call for:
- strength, coordination, balance and dexterity
- adequate cardiovascular capacity for dealing with physical activity and stressful situations, such as arresting violators
Your land, air and sea patrols will last for hours or days. At times, you must remain stationary for lengthy periods while:
- conducting surveillance
- sitting, driving or operating a program vehicle or vessel
- working in the office at a computer terminal
Psychological
While your body may be able to cope with the physical demands, your mind must also deal with:
- irregular and long working hours
- multiple shift and scheduling changes
- time away from family and community
- negative and derogatory comments from some members of the public
- your interactions being recorded and posted on social medial by members of the public
Because of how unpredictable enforcement actions can be, there's potential for serious accidents, injuries or illness. So, you must be mentally and emotionally prepared. Your training will help prepare you to address these situations.
Employment conditions
To be a fishery officer, you must first complete the Fishery Officer Initial Training Program (FOIT).
You will also need to:
- pass the fishery officer training entrance exam (sample questions)
- meet our use of force proficiency standards
- wear a uniform and certain protective clothing
- meet medical, psychological and other general standards
- meet physical the standard (PARE – physical ability requirement evaluation) in a time of 4 minutes and 45 seconds to be accepted in training, and 4 minutes to graduate from training (at the end of 19-weeks)
- carry and use firearms and other restricted and prohibited weapons
- have a valid driver's licence as well as current certificates in first aid and CPR
- be eligible for and granted secret security clearance and undergo in depth law enforcement checks
- accept deployment location as outlined by your hiring region, or assignment to different enforcement activities, such as patrols that are:
- inland
- coastal
- vessel
- offshore (including air patrols)
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