Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Would you like to be on the front line of marine conservation?

Fishery Officer

£21,892 - £25,710 pa Hastings

The Marine and Fisheries Agency is an Executive Agency of Defra and provides the service delivery, inspection and enforcement activities provided by the Government to the fishing industry, those engaged on construction works and dredging at sea and other marine stakeholders in England and Wales.

As part of a small team based at Hastings, you will help to enforce Common Fisheries Policy legislation – monitoring fish landings at local ports, checking logbooks/landing declarations and where necessary gathering evidence for prosecutions and attending court. You will assist in carrying out the assessment of fish stocks through a biological sampling programme, working with the local industry to source the fish for measurement. Fishery officers take an active part during pollution incidents, working with other agencies to minimise damage to the marine environment. As enforcement officers for environmental legislation, you will be monitoring marine construction works both at sea and onshore. The work will bring you into contact with a wide number of stakeholders along the south coast and it is important that you are able to communicate effectively with them to explain the government’s policies and take forward their concerns.

You could have served in a responsible position at sea with the Merchant Navy, Fishing Fleet or Royal Navy, or have acquired sound experience of the fishing industry ashore or have other relevant marine fisheries qualifications or experience. Strong leadership, team working and communication skills will also be required, as will sound judgement, self-motivation and quick thinking and a good standard of physical fitness.

It is important that you are prepared to carry out inshore enforcement duties at sea where necessary. You will also be required on occasions to work unsocial hours.

Further details of the work of the Marine and Fisheries Agency are available on the website: www.mfa.gov.uk/

For further information and an application pack, please contact ssd.yorkrecruitment@defra.gsi.gov.uk or telephone 0845 603 7262 quoting reference RCRE873.

Closing date: 11th March 2008.

The Marine and Fisheries Agency is an equal opportunities employer.

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