Conservation and Fisheries Officers

(NOC 2224)

in All Engineering, Math, Science, and Information Technology

This group includes conservation and fishery officers, inspectors and observers who enforce federal and provincial regulations established for the protection of fish, wildlife and other natural resources and collect and relay information on resource management. They work for federal and provincial government departments.

Job Outlook

Undetermined

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  • Estimate change in employment not available for this occupation.
  • Estimate 0 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
  • Estimate rate of unemployment not available for this occupation.

Compared to: All Engineering, Math, Science, and Information Technology

  • Estimate 3410 employment change, 2021-2023
  • Estimate 5690 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
  • Estimate rate of unemployment not available for these occupation.

Hourly Pay

$20.00

Minimum

$30.38

Median

$45.00

Maximum

Annual Pay

$10,650

Minimum

$67,895

Median

$82,625

Maximum

Compared to: All Engineering, Math, Science, and Information Technology

Hourly Pay

$18.00

Minimum

$34.90

Median

$54.10

Maximum

Annual Pay

$13,568

Minimum

$60,422

Median

$107,009

Maximum

About the job

Nature of work

This group includes conservation and fishery officers, inspectors and observers who enforce federal and provincial regulations established for the protection of fish, wildlife and other natural resources and collect and relay information on resource management. They work for federal and provincial government departments.

Job duties

Conservation and fishery officers, inspectors, and observers:

  • Generate public awareness of fish and wildlife conservation and regulations.
  • Patrol by truck, aircraft, boat, or on foot, to ensure compliance with the provincial and federal statutes relating to fish, wildlife, and the environment.
  • Investigate complaints, arrest violators, prepare briefs, and present evidence in court.
  • Issue licences, export documents and special permits and collect royalties assessed on fish, wildlife, and timber resources.
  • Implement and supervise approved techniques in preventing or overcoming damage caused by wildlife.
  • Perform resource protection duties like inspecting fishing gear and equipment and monitoring fishing activities for compliance with regulations.
  • Gather resource data by making inventories of fish, collecting water samples, and helping biologists in scientific research.
  • Supervise or provide firearms safety training courses and trapper education courses.

Sample job titles

  • conservation officer
  • fish and game warden
  • fisheries inspector
  • fisheries officer
  • forest ranger - wildlife management
  • game officer
  • game warden
  • natural resources officer
  • park ranger

Skills

  • Strong spoken and written communication skills are needed to prepare briefs and present evidence in court and in speaking to the public. You need to be methodical in investigating complaints and compiling field and resource data. Explaining regulations and confronting or arresting violators requires confidence and the ability to be assertive. You may be required to provide or supervise safety training courses and must be able to operate vehicles like trucks, aircraft, or boats.

Job requirements

  • A college program in renewable resources management, environmental conservation or a related discipline is usually required.
  • On-the-job training and courses related to law enforcement and resource management are provided.
  • A class-5 driver's licence, pesticide applicator's licence and explosives licence may be required.

Other considerations

  • Resource conservation and environmental concerns may help to generate job opportunities for people in these jobs. People in these jobs usually work regular hours; however, irregular hours may be required to follow through on an experiment or fieldwork. Progression to senior and supervisory positions is possible with experience.

By the numbers

Quick look

335

employed in 2016

89.4%

employed full-time

0.0%

self employed

24.2%
Icons/female Created with Sketch.
75.8%
Icons/male Created with Sketch.
49.2

median age

Compared to: All Engineering, Math, Science, and Information Technology

25,875

employed in 2016

91.5%

employed full-time

7.6%

self employed

20.0%
Icons/female Created with Sketch.
80%
Icons/male Created with Sketch.
42.8

median age

Where will I likely work?

29.9%

Southern

$71,810 median annual income
25.4%

Halifax

$69,277 median annual income
23.9%

Cape Breton

$40,184 median annual income
14.9%

North Shore

$64,925 median annual income
6.0%

Annapolis Valley

N/A

Compared to: All NS Occupations

47.0%

Halifax

15.6%

North Shore

12.9%

Annapolis Valley

12.7%

Cape Breton

11.8%

Southern

Top Industries of Employment

78.9%

Public administration

7.0%

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

5.3%

Arts, entertainment and recreation

5.3%

Other services (except public administration)

3.5%

Transportation and warehousing

What is the age of Employment?

31.0%

55-64

25.0%

45-54

23.0%

35-44

9.0%

25-34

6.0%

15-24

6.0%

65+

Compared to: All Engineering, Math, Science, and Information Technology

24.2%

25-34

23.5%

45-54

23.4%

35-44

16.4%

55-64

7.7%

15-24

Top levels of education

43.3%

College Diploma

$71,459 median annual income
20.9%

High school

$40,057 median annual income
20.9%

Bachelor

$61,110 median annual income
6.0%

Master

N/A
3.0%

Trade Certification

N/A

Compared to: All Engineering, Math, Science, and Information Technology

33.1%

College Diploma

$59,986 median annual income
29.8%

Bachelor

$63,965 median annual income
11.9%

High school

$45,835 median annual income
9.9%

Master

$65,105 median annual income
6.9%

Trade Certification

$57,773 median annual income

Education & training

Environmental Engineering Technology/Environmental Technology

College or Trades Program

These programs prepare students to apply basic engineering principles and technical skills in support of engineers and other professionals engaged in developing and using indoor and outdoor environmental pollution control systems. They include courses in environmental safety principles, testing and sampling procedures, laboratory techniques, instrumentation calibration, safety and protection procedures, equipment maintenance, and report preparation.

Institutions providing this program

Maritime Environmental Training Institute

Sydney, NS

Nova Scotia Community College

Various, NS

Environmental Science

College or University Program

These programs focus on applying biological, chemical, and physical principles to the study of the physical environment and the solution of environmental problems, including subjects like controlling environmental pollution and degradation, the interaction between human society and the natural environment, and natural resources management. They include courses in biology, chemistry, physics, geosciences, climatology, statistics, and mathematical modelling.

Institutions providing this program

Acadia University

Wolfville, NS

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS

University of King's College

Halifax, NS

Saint Mary's University

Halifax, NS

Dalhousie University Faculty of Agriculture

Truro, NS

Environmental Studies

College or University Program

These programs focus on environment-related issues using scientific, social scientific, and/or humanistic approaches. They include courses in the basic principles of ecology and environmental science and related subjects such as policy, politics, law, economics, social aspects, planning, pollution control, natural resources, and the interactions of human beings and nature.

Institutions providing this program

Acadia University

Wolfville, NS

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS

University of King's College

Halifax, NS

St. Francis Xavier University

Antigonish, NS

Saint Mary's University

Halifax, NS

Cape Breton University

Sydney, NS

Fishing and Fisheries Sciences and Management

College, Trades, or University Program

These programs focus on the scientific study of farming and producing non-domesticated fish and shellfish populations for recreational and commercial purposes and managing fishing and marine/aquatic product processing to ensure adequate conservation and efficient use. They include courses in the principles of marine/aquatic biology, freshwater and saltwater ecosystems, water resources, fishing production operations and management, fishing policy and regulation, and the management of recreational and commercial fishing activities.

Institutions providing this program

Nova Scotia Community College

Various, NS

Land Use Planning and Management/Development

College, Trades, or University Program

These programs focus on how public and/or private land and associated resources can be preserved, developed, and used for maximum social, economic, and environmental benefit. They include courses in natural resources management, natural resource economics, public policy, regional and land use planning, environmental impact assessment, applicable laws and regulations, government and politics, principles of business and real estate land use, statistical and analytical tools, computer applications, mapping and report preparation, site analysis, cost analysis, and communications skills.

Institutions providing this program

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS

Natural Resources Management and Policy

College, Trades, or University Program

These programs prepare students to plan, develop, manage, and evaluate programs to protect and regulate natural habitats and renewable natural resources. They include courses in the principles of wildlife and conservation biology, environmental science, animal population surveying, natural resource economics, management techniques for various habitats, applicable law and policy, administrative and communications skills, and public relations.

Institutions providing this program

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS

Dalhousie University Faculty of Agriculture

Truro, NS

Nova Scotia Community College

Various, NS

Water, Wetlands and Marine Resources Management

College, Trades, or University Program

These programs apply the principles of marine/aquatic biology, oceanography, natural resource economics, and natural resources management to the development, conservation, and management of freshwater and saltwater environments. They include courses in subjects like wetlands, river, lake, coastal and oceanic water resources, water conservation and use, flood control, pollution control, water supply logistics, wastewater management, aquatic and marine ecology, aquatic and marine life conservation, and the economic and recreational uses of water resources.

Institutions providing this program

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS

St. Francis Xavier University

Antigonish, NS

Employment requirements & contacts

No regulating bodies were found under this occupation profile

Contacts

Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Communications Branch
Dartmouth, NS
Maritime College of Forest Technology
Fredericton, NB

Additional resources

There are no additional resources for this occupation.