OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Aug. 10, 2012) - The Honourable Keith Ashfield, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, extends congratulations to the 2012 graduating class of fishery officers and welcomes them to the Conservation and Protection Branch of Fisheries and Oceans Canada. The graduation ceremony was held on Thursday, August 9, in Regina, Saskatchewan.
"Our fisheries are an important part of our Canadian heritage and economy, and we are committed to protecting these resources for future generations," said Minister Ashfield. "As new conservation and protection officers, these graduates will be working to ensure a healthy future for important fisheries and their habitat for the benefit of all Canadians."
These graduates completed 17 weeks of classroom training and a nine-week enforcement program at the Royal Canadian Mounted Police College, "Depot" Division. They will soon make their way to field offices across Canada where they will undertake 30 months of practical training.
"On behalf of the Government of Canada, I am pleased to congratulate these 18 new conservation and protection officers as they prepare for their duties on the land, on the sea and in the air to protect Canada's marine resources," said Minister Ashfield.
Fishery officers are responsible for the enforcement of the Fisheries Act, the Species at Risk Act and the Coastal Fisheries Protection Act, as well as many other acts and regulations relating to fisheries on Canadian Waters, in the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) regulatory area, and off Canada's Pacific, eastern and northern shores.
In addition to protecting fish and fish habitat, fishery officers promote compliance and conservation, stewardship and sustainability of fisheries. They also work to increase awareness through activities that include presentations to school children and public interest groups about enforcement activities and conservation goals.
This year's graduates are: Kelly-Lynn Aitken (Kitimat, British Columbia), Benjamin James Andrews (Kippens, Newfoundland and Labrador), Brodie A. Cardinal (Terrace, British Columbia),Neil Kevin Deveau (Sluice Point, Nova Scotia), Graeme Fraser (Chester Basin, Nova Scotia), Colin Hart (Fogo Island, Newfoundland and Labrador), Andrew Humber (Ottawa, Ontario), Miles Jackson (Canso, Nova Scotia), Greg Kinsman (Kingston, Ontario), Chris McHatten (Grand Manan, New Brunswick), Katrina Mullins (Stephenville, Newfoundland and Labrador), Nicole Nickerson (Barrington, Nova Scotia), Marc Perry (Sackville, Nova Scotia), Jeffrey Michael Edward Quigley (Nanoose Bay, British Columbia), Sean Shortall (Mount Uniacke, Nova Scotia), Samantha Stewart (Calgary, Alberta), Dane Thompson (Sydney, Nova Scotia) and Nancy White (Freshwater Pond Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador).
For additional information about becoming a fishery officer, visit the Fisheries and Oceans Canada website at: http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/enf-loi/officer-agent-eng.htm.
For broadcast: Minister Ashfield celebrated the graduation of 18 new conservation and protection officers, who are ready to begin their duties in field offices across Canada.
Internet: http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca
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