The Sea Fisheries Protection Authority is seeking to appoint a Sea Fishery Protection Officer, based in the port of Castletownbere and create a panel for future roles.

The Role of a Sea-Fishery Protection Officer

A Sea-Fishery Protection Officer undertakes a dynamic and essential role in conserving marine resources and ensuring seafood safety. Their responsibilities span a wide range of activities, from conducting thorough inspections aboard fishing vessels and within seafood processing establishments to engaging with various seafood business premises. These officers are vital in the collection and analysis of evidence, which may include fish samples, shellfish, and other fishery products. They are also tasked with gathering formal statements, verifying crucial data like VMS (Vessel Monitoring Systems), sales notes, and logbook entries, and preparing documentation for legal proceedings against violators.

Furthermore, these officers play a critical role in the compilation and validation of fisheries statistics, regularly updating databases to reflect accurate and current information. Stationed primarily at port offices, they often serve as the initial point of contact for the public on a broad array of fisheries-related issues.

The work of a Sea-Fishery Protection Officer is carried out across various locations including ports throughout Ireland, at sea, and at land-based facilities. Their working environment is diverse, encompassing both indoor and outdoor settings, on land and at sea, making their role not only crucial but also highly varied and engaging.

Please note: The nature of this job requires regular evening and weekend work as a routine part of the job and in keeping with the nature of the industry we provide services to.  Some Ports operate a two shift or three shift roster depending on business needs which may entail night work. An allowance in addition to pay is payable to cover atypical roster attendance.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

• Conducting direct inspections of fishing vessels, processing establishments, seafood business premises and other places of fisheries and marine activity to verify compliance and to detect non-compliance with Sea-Fisheries and Seafood safety legislation.

• Taking appropriate follow-up action following these inspection activities such as writing reports, preparation of case files, inputting data into databases of inspection activity, compilation of written statements or attending court to act as a witness for the prosecution.

• Collecting, verifying, and inputting fisheries statistics in a timely and accurate manner.

• Collecting samples of shellfish, fishery products and fish to sampling specification at shellfish production sites, fish processing establishments, auction halls and fishing vessels and ensuring the delivery of these samples in a suitable condition to conduct the analysis intended.

• Attending meetings or meeting with individuals to provide technical input on matters related to fisheries conservation, food safety and fisheries statistics or to advise groups or individuals on these matters or matters related to the policy of the Authority.

In addition to the duties outlined above, a Sea-Fisheries Protection Officer carries out any other relevant duties which may be assigned to him/her by the Authority Members, or other authorised officer, from time to time.

Essential Requirements

Candidates, on the closing date for this competition, must hold a minimum qualification of a National Diploma Level 7 in a discipline relevant to the work of the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority, for example qualifications providing competency in marine, fisheries, food or environmental sciences or qualifications related to data management/analytics including IT or Statistics or qualifications related to law, enforcement and associated disciplines.

• Excellent Planning and Organisation ability
• Excellent communication and administration skills
• Fluent spoken and written English is absolutely essential
• Strong IT capability
• Full driving licence

Further details are in the Candidate Booklet, available to download at this portal.

How to Apply

Applications must be made by CV accompanied by a completed Eligibility Form, available from this site by clicking the  "Application Form" button.

Completed applications (CV & Eligibility Form) must be uploaded via this portal no later than 5pm Monday 24th March 2025  (Irish time). 

Please upload your CV where asked for 'CV', and Eligibility Form where asked for 'Cover Letter' .

Applications will not be accepted by any other method, nor if received after the closing date.

When outlining your application, accuracy is essential. The information you supply in your application will play a central part of the selection process.

If you do not receive an acknowledgement of receipt of your application within 24 hours, please check your junk/spam folders as email notifications may be filtered here.

The onus is on each applicant to ensure that they are in receipt of all communication from Conscia Limited.  Conscia Limited accept no responsibility for communication not accessed or received by an applicant.     

If you have any queries about the role, please contact us at  sfpa@consciatalent.com