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Chilliwack, B.C. – Canada’s New Government continues to strengthen its enforcement
efforts on Canadian waters. Today, at a ceremony in Chilliwack, 55 new recruits
graduated from the Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) fishery officer training program.
Their efforts were applauded by the Honourable Loyola Hearn, Minister of Fisheries
and Oceans.
"Today’s fishery officer graduates can be proud of their decision to embark on
a meaningful career. Their efforts to conserve and protect Canada’s fisheries will
be felt for generations to come," said Minister Hearn. "These new recruits are part
of an investment by Canada’s New Government to the Fisheries and Oceans enforcement
program."
The timing of today’s graduation means that the fishery officers will be in place
just in time for the summer fishing season. The enhanced capacity will help DFO’s
conservation efforts on the Fraser River and other DFO offices across the country
through increased monitoring and surveillance activities and more proactive and
collaborative strategies.
Having completed 18 weeks of classroom training, the new officers will now be
deployed to various field offices to broaden their knowledge and experience. Deployment
is as follows: 21 officers in British Columbia; 11 in Newfoundland and Labrador;
10 in Nova Scotia; three in both New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island; two in
Saskatchewan, Ontario and the Northwest Territories; and one in Nunavut.
The next 30 months will involve hands-on field training under the guidance of
senior fishery officers. The new fishery officers will learn to monitor fisheries
to ensure compliance with a conservation-based, precautionary approach, as well
as enforcement techniques and how to monitor construction developments and activities
that might impact fish habitat.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION:
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Sophie Galarneau
Manager, Media Relations
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Ottawa
613-990-7537
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Steve Outhouse
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Ottawa
613-992-3474 |
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NR-HQ-07-22E |
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