ANNEX E. CORE COMPONENTS OF FISHERIES OFFICER TRAINING

Training requirements for Fisheries Officers will vary in every country due to many factors, not the least being the level of the fisheries knowledge and the corresponding standards of education in the State. There have been two major fisheries training needs assessments in the past few years, one in the South Pacific for FFA and a second in the Caribbean for the CARICOM Fisheries Resource Assessment and Management Program. Although the details varied with respect to the training required, it was noted that training should be an ongoing exercise and there should be a commitment to enhance the capabilities of fisheries staff as they increase their responsibilities. Training should correspond to the responsibility level of the position and be matched by the general educational level of the recipient. In the Caribbean, for example, the broad categories of fisheries field staff include fisheries assistants, fisheries officers, senior fisheries officers and chief fisheries officers/fisheries directors/fisheries administrators. Each of the general levels has several different titles. It was noted that the shortage of individuals with formal secondary education places pressure on those with said education to accept a much higher level of responsibility and, consequently, their own formal training and educational level needs to be at a high generalist/managerial level to give them the capability to address the wider range of issues, compared to countries where the human resource pool is sufficient to fund and attract specialists. This is more evident as the seniority of the individual increases.

Fisheries Assistants tend to be technical level officers who are in the infancy of their careers and consequently require introductory and hands-on technical training. It is expected that this level of officer would possess a minimum of high school or "A" level formal education to be able to respond appropriately to the training recommended. Officers below this level would be encouraged to upgrade their formal education. The fields of study for these officers should include, in random order, the following:

• level 1 orientation


• fishing methods


• fish handling


• navigation and safety


• extension field work


• communications


• administration


• resource management principles


• basic biology


• fishing gear design and construction


• gas and diesel maintenance


• vessel repairs and maintenance


• small fish business practices


• introduction to computers

Fisheries officers, on the other hand, are expected to possess a formal degree in a fisheries or marine related field of study. Their level of training for their duties emphasizes a higher theoretical level of resource management.

Their training should focus on the following:

• level 2 orientation


• resource assessment applications


• aquaculture


• data collection techniques


• socio and economic principles


• fish technology


• fisheries development


• fisheries law


• marketing


• processing


• sea use planning introduction


• extension field training


• policy and planning skills


• introduction to oceanography


• advanced computer skills

Senior fisheries officers, and supervisors in the fisheries department, are expected to possess a minimum of a first degree. It was seen as advantageous if such officers have a post-graduate degree in a related field. This level officer, as a supervisor and senior individual in the department, would be called upon to manage personnel and represent the department at meetings regarding ocean use management in general. The individual needs greater knowledge of the integrated ocean management principles and techniques to properly represent the department. The training suggested for this level of officer includes the following subjects:

• level 3 orientation


• stock assessment


• environmental impact assessment


• survey descriptions


• value added product skills


• finance and administration


• data interpretation and analyses


• project management


• aquaculture


• personnel management


• survey methodologies


• general management skills


• human resource development


• integrated sea use planning


• advanced fish marketing strategies

Fisheries administrators are again expected to have a minimum of a first degree in a related field and considerable field experience. These individuals are the department's representatives to the government and require senior level management skills as well as knowledge and ability in the planning and policy side of fisheries and habitat management. Subject areas identified for this level officer include:^[126]

• senior management orientation


• program development and management


• policy development and management


• fisheries development and management


• Convention on the Law of the Sea


• donor agency programs


• international affairs


• socio and economic analyses


• communications skills


• legal interpretation


• personnel management


• senior management skills


• finance and administration


• MCS strategy and policy development and implementation.

This information is presented as one example of a regional initiative with respect to an assessment of fisheries training required to meet gradually increasing levels of responsibility in the fisheries departments. It might be noted that there appears in the above example a dearth of information on fisheries MCS, except at the final level. This may be true, but it could be expected that the general orientation and the fisheries management training would cover this area of responsibility. It might, however, be clearer if the MCS training commences at the first stage and progressively increases in profile and tasking at each level. Certainly it would be expected that officers would all require considerable training in this area of work with emphasis on the enforcement aspects of MCS, if fisheries are to carry out the surveillance aspects of fisheries management, or guide the other ministry officials seconded to them for this purpose. Fisheries administrators and their field staff would require the knowledge to guide these individuals appropriately in fisheries management techniques and priorities. It does appear common to all training packages for fisheries that the following general subjects are required for fisheries officials to carry out their duties:

• resource management


• habitat management


• data collection and analysis


• enforcement/surveillance


• public relations


• administration


• personnel supervision


• policy development and implementation


• integrated management


• coastal zone planning and management

It has been found through experience that training for fisheries can best be achieved through the use of modular training techniques. This can assist in minimizing the time the officer needs to be away from duty and permits assimilation of the theoretical knowledge into practical experience between training sessions.

The emphasis and detail for each subject will be determined by the Fisheries Administrators to meet the individual needs of their countries. Training, especially on a regional or subregional basis, is an area of high interest to all donor agencies.

As this paper is focused on MCS, an expansion of that module might assist Fisheries Administrators in planning the training programmes for their staff. It must be noted that the fisheries officer will not be fully qualified to carry out MCS duties following this module, due to the fact that it is the linkage and knowledge of the other training modules which cements the capabilities into a competent whole.

Without setting priorities for the training, some of the task modules^[127] which might be concentrated upon during the training would include:

- understanding of the Department's mandate and jurisdiction:

• answer the questions as to why there is a fisheries department and what it is


• answer the question as to how far does its authority extend

- the purpose and scope of MCS/the objective of the country's MCS policies:

• the purpose of MCS

• difference between MCS and enforcement

• difference between actual and preventive enforcement

• departmental MCS policy

• difference between renewable resource management and other management strategies

- principles of law:

• the purpose of the law

• the role of society in establishing law

• the impact of law on society

• how laws are made in the country

• the meaning of the law (interpretation of the law)

• * what is meant by case law, common law, civil law, summary conviction and indictable offence (not all these terms will be applicable in every legal system)

• powers of search, arrest, entry and settling disputes as established in fisheries law

- the court system:

• how the judicial system works


• levels of the courts and authorities


• court terminology

- introduction to the fisheries laws - acts and regulations:

• how to interpret the Fisheries Act(s) and regulations


• the lay-out of the Act(s) and regulations


• the use of the Act(s) and regulations


• authorities and powers of fisheries officials

- the support resources available to address the task:

• who controls the support services


• how these resources are accessed


• emergency support

- the cooperation and linkages with other ministries that are necessary for successful MCS implementation:

• which ministries may become involved in fisheries MCS activities?


• what are their procedures which impact on fisheries MCS activities?


• who are the contact persons in these ministries?


• what is the official mechanism to interact with these officials?



• what is the mechanism in off-hours or emergency situations?

- determining MCS priorities:

• identify MCS problems


• identify problem area and the impact of continued activities



• develop a plan and allocate resources

- planning MCS activities, data collection and surveillance patrols:

• routine patrol planning for land, sea and air patrols



• dedicated patrol planning for land, sea and air patrols


• measure fish, fish catches and fishing gear


• collect scientific information through sampling techniques


• collect socio-economic information through questionnaires


• stop vessels at sea


• stop motor vehicles


• develop local contacts and sources of information/community relations


• conduct checks of licences, vessels, gear, vehicles, facilities and persons

- determine the violation:

• evaluate the situation



• conduct searches


• evaluate complaints

- apprehend violators:

• establish identification of self and alleged violator



• advise alleged violator of offence


• obtain information from the alleged violator and witnesses


• warnings


• note-taking


• exhibits, care and security


• interview techniques


• use of recording equipment


• questions to ask


• evidence, definition and use thereof


• definition of threat, promise


• elements of a charge


• separation of alleged violators


• issue appearance notices, warnings or secure certificates

- arrest alleged violators:

• ensure custody



• searches


• rights of the alleged violator


• release from custody


• appearance notices


• policy on use of force


• issuance of firearms


• policy on use of firearms


• practical firearms training


• armed boarding training


• application of use of force


• procedures for escalation of use of force

- gathering evidence:

• maintain the scene of the alleged violation



• make and secure seizures


• obtain exhibits


• continuity of evidence


• statements


• liaise with senior staff and counsel

- charge alleged violators:

• violation reports



• prepare information


• summons


• laying of information and summons


• serving summons


• proof of service of summons


• subpoenas


• executing warrant of arrest


• orders of forfeiture

- court procedures:

• court duties


• giving evidence

- completion of final documentation:

• return of prosecutions


• court case follow-up action

- completion of final procedures:

• return seized items or proceeds


• disposal of forfeited items

- review and evaluation of MCS program:

• assess MCS activities


• recommend amendments to procedures or control mechanisms


• recommend enhancements to MCS procedures, equipment, staffing, training, etc.