Fisheries Officer (ANZSCO 311311)

    Updated

    What a Fisheries Officer does

    Inspects fishing vessels, gear, licences and catches to ensure that fisheries laws and regulations are obeyed.

    Also called
    Fisheries Inspector

    Key facts

    ANZSCO code
    311311
    Skill level
    2Associate degree, advanced diploma or diploma
    Visas that list it
    494
    Assessing authority
    VETASSESS
    National shortage
    No shortage

    Visa options

    Occupation eligibility is one requirement; each visa page links to the rest.

    Points-tested

    Employer-sponsored

    Main tasks

    • inspecting animals, plants and agricultural produce to identify product quality issues, and providing advice to producers
    • developing, implementing, auditing and monitoring quality procedures at farms and food handling and processing facilities to ensure compliance with required standards
    • testing samples of produce for quality, size and purity ensuring that required standards of hygiene are observed at storage, processing and packing facilities and in transport vehicles
    • advising primary producers on economic aspects of disease eradication and informing producers and the general public of the health implications of diseases and impurities
    • advising on the identification of pests and diseases and on regulations pertaining to grading, packing and loading of products
    • examining imported plants and animals, and products, such as dairy and meat products, timber, seeds and dried fruits and the conveyances that transport them for biosecurity risks, and issuing directions to control biosecurity risks
    • patrolling and investigating waterways for unlawful fishing activities and the removal of protected marine life
    • educating, advising and providing information on a wide range of topics relating to fish and their protection
    • may initiate or assist in legal action to enforce regulations

    Shortage by state

    • NationalNo shortage
    • ACTNo shortage
    • NSWNo shortage
    • NTNo shortage
    • QLDNo shortage
    • SANo shortage
    • TASNo shortage
    • VICNo shortage
    • WANo shortage

    State and territory nomination

    For the 190 and 491, each state and territory also has its own occupation list.

    Common questions

    What does a Fisheries Officer do?

    Inspects fishing vessels, gear, licences and catches to ensure that fisheries laws and regulations are obeyed. Also called: Fisheries Inspector. (ABS ANZSCO description.)

    Is Fisheries Officer on the skilled occupation list?

    Yes. Fisheries Officer (ANZSCO 311311) is on the Regional Occupation List (ROL) (lists in force from 14 December 2024). It is listed for the 494 visa.

    What is the ANZSCO code for Fisheries Officer?

    311311. Home Affairs uses ANZSCO codes for skilled visas.

    How can a Fisheries Officer migrate to Australia?

    The occupation lists Home Affairs publishes include Fisheries Officer for the Subclass 494 visa. Being on a list is one requirement among several; each visa's page links to Home Affairs for the rest.

    Who assesses Fisheries Officer for an Australian visa?

    VETASSESS, the skills assessing authority listed for 311311.

    Is Fisheries Officer in demand in Australia?

    Jobs and Skills Australia rated it "No shortage" nationally in its 2025 Occupation Shortage List, with ratings for each state and territory shown above.

    Sources

    1. 1Department of Home Affairs, skilled occupation listimmi.homeaffairs.gov.au
    2. 2Australian Bureau of Statistics, ANZSCO – Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations, 2022, CC BY 4.0abs.gov.au
    3. 3Jobs and Skills Australia, Occupation Shortage List, 2025 listjobsandskills.gov.au