PSA members in NSW Fisheries who work in the field perform a wide scope of duties, much of which are reactive, and require quick thinking, and an array of skills.

Primarily, Fisheries Officers are protecting the state’s fish stocks, enforcing fishing regulations, and maintaining sustainable fishing practices. They patrol waterways, inspect catches and equipment, and educate the public on responsible fishing. In the course of performing this work, the officers are often the only officials in these areas, which are leisure areas, though areas that are fraught with risks.

In August 2022, Brent Carey, Aboriginal Fisheries Officer, and Ben Travis, District Fisheries Officer, began a routine compliance patrol of the Hawkesbury River, near Brooklyn on the Central Coast. Mr Travis recalls the moment the routine patrol changed.

“At this time a vessel was seen entering the harbour area and we saw the skipper of the vessel was clearly distressed and waving for assistance,” he said. “We secured the Fisheries Patrol Vessel back to the wharf and immediately assisted the skipper to secure his vessel against the wharf. This was the moment we realised the seriousness and the extent of the situation facing us.”

A person had been pulled out of the river near the Parsley Bay boat ramp and was in a great deal of trouble and was in urgent need of first aid. The officers called emergency services and performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on the man straight away.

The officers took turns administering CPR, and when NSW Ambulance paramedics arrived, continued to assist the paramedics.

Unfortunately, the man did not recover, and passed away that day.

In June this year, NSW Ambulance presented the two Fisheries Officers with Certificates of Recognition (Community) for their actions on that day.

“I have provided CPR in the past on a number of occasions, my previous employment was with local government as a Professional Ocean Lifeguard, so have had previous extensive training in providing critical first aid in emergency situations, especially in and around water,” said Mr Travis.

Mr Carey has spent his life around waterways.

“I grew up on the Manning River and love the waterways and ocean that is part of our sea country on Biripi Land on the Mid North Coast,” he said. “I am a proud indigenous community member and I am passionate about sustainability of our resources.”

PSA General Secretary Stewart Little said “members in Fisheries receiving this award highlights again the important work these officers do in the field”.
“These officers are in the thick of our communities, wearing a uniform, and representing the NSW Government. That makes them a trusted part of the community. And our members live up to that trust with these actions.

“However, it also makes them a target for those who do not respect people in uniform, and who are out in the community not doing the right thing by the rest of the community.
“Our members in Fisheries need protective equipment, and the jurisdiction to carry out investigative work – as their counterparts in other states are doing. Fisheries Officers’ role in the community is getting riskier by the day; people are already before the courts for attacking our members.”

In February this year, the PSA initiated work bans in certain areas of work for members to ensure their safety, until the Department of Primary Industries seriously initiated legislative reform to make the job safe and genuinely effective.

“Our members in Fisheries are literally heroes in the community,” said Mr Little. “Recognised by other NSW Government departments; just not their own.”