Sea-Fisheries Protection Officer

A Sea-Fishery Protection Officer performs multi-faceted front-line roles related to Sea-Fisheries conservation and Seafood safety.

This work requires the regular conduct of direct inspections onboard fishing vessels, at processing establishments and seafood business premises, and in other places of fisheries and marine activity.

The inspection activities may include:

• Taking samples of fish, shellfish and fishery products.
• Collection of articles of evidence.
• Taking formal statements from individuals.
• Cross-checking and verification of surveillance data or other data such as VMS data, sales note data, logbook data, etc.
• Compilation and production of formal statements to be used in the taking of prosecution cases against individuals.

A Sea-Fishery Protection Officer is frequently engaged in the collection of fisheries statistics, verification of these statistics and the input of data into a database. The process involves the collection, verification and processing of data on a frequent basis.

The Sea-Fisheries Protection Officer based in the port office is frequently the first point of contact with the public on a wide range of fisheries matters.

The work of a Sea-Fisheries Protection Officer takes place at the ports around Ireland, at sea and at land-based establishments. The working environment is both indoor and outdoor, on land and at sea.

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.

In addition to the minimum qualification entry requirement, candidates must also have:

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

It is an absolute requirement that candidates declare any potential conflict of interest at the application stage of the recruitment process.

Failure to declare such conflicts of interest which later come to light may result in the candidate being disqualified from the competition or, if the candidate is offered and takes up a role with the SFPA on the basis of misleading information, may result in immediate dismissal from the SFPA.

The Following are Considered Desirable Attributes

• Previous experience in a regulatory environment.
• Possess a knowledge or experience of the sea-fisheries industry.
• Possess a knowledge or experience of food safety regulation.
• Possess a knowledge of health and customs certification compliance.

Conditions of ServiceCitizenship Requirement

As this is a permanent position, the eligibility to compete for this post is open to citizens of the European Economic Area (EEA) or to non-EEA nationals with a valid work permit only.

The EEA consists of the Member States of the European Union along with Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. Swiss citizens under EU agreements may also apply.

General

The appointment is to a Sea-Fisheries Protection Officer post on a permanent contract and is subject to the Civil Service Regulation Acts 1956 to 2005, the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004, the Sea-Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006 (No. 8 of 2006) and any other Act for the time being in force relating to the Civil or Public Service.

Pay

The basic salary for the position (rates effective from 1 February 2026) is the Sea-Fisheries Protection Officer PPC scale of:

€41,883 - €75,663 per annum

This includes two long service increments.

Tenure

This is a permanent position.

The appointee will be required to serve a 12-month probationary period.

Location

Following completion of an initial training period, the appointee for this role will be based in:

• Howth
• Dunmore East
• Castletownbere

Travel within the region of the relevant port office is likely to occur on a frequent basis and travel nationally and internationally less frequently.

When absent from home and place of employment on official duty, the appointee will be paid appropriate travelling expenses and subsistence allowances, subject to normal Civil Service and Public Sector regulations.

Training and Formation

Upon joining the SFPA, you will be required to undergo a period of training.

This is an intense and comprehensive training delivered by both internal subject matter experts and third-party experts, aimed at ensuring you develop the necessary knowledge and skills needed to act as a warranted Sea-Fisheries Protection Officer for the regulation of Food Safety and Fisheries Conservation.

As part of the new recruit SFPO training, the new entrant will undergo training including:

• Fisheries control.
• Food safety controls.
• Legal and enforcement training.
• Other operational functions.

Attendance at all scheduled training is essential.

This training will take place in a blended format, including in-person classroom and online learning. Access to good Wi-Fi is essential.

A large practical element may take place in your home port or one of the other port offices.

Further details will be provided to successful candidates. However, applicants should be aware that during the training period there will be periods where they will be away from home.

During the training period, candidates may also be required to attend different locations around the coast where they will observe and assist in the performance of the routine work of a Sea-Fisheries Protection Officer.

Travel and subsistence will be payable for these absences in line with Civil Service circulars.

The new recruit SFPO training programme will be subject to the restrictions in place by the Government at that point in time.

Hours of Attendance

Hours of attendance will be fixed from time to time but will amount to not less than 35 hours net per week.

The appointee will be required to work such additional hours from time to time as may be reasonable and necessary for the proper performance of his/her duties, subject to the limits set down in the Working Time Regulations.

The appointee will be required to work shift work on a rota which includes weekend attendance.

Rest Periods

The terms of the Organisation of Working Time Act, 1997 will apply to this appointment.

Annual Leave

In addition to the standard 10 public holidays, the annual leave for this position is:

• 25 working days per year.
• Rising to 29 days after 5 years of service.
• Rising to 30 days after 10 years of service.

Sick Leave

Pay during properly certified sick absence, provided there is no evidence of permanent disability for service, will apply on a pro-rata basis, in accordance with the provisions of the sick leave circulars.