Fishery Officer Student Program

The Fishery Officer Student Program (FOSP) is a national student employment program for post-secondary students seeking meaningful experience in the conservation and protection of Canada’s natural resources.

As one of Canada’s largest federal departments, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) offers rewarding opportunities to make a meaningful impact while developing valuable skills in a diverse and inclusive workplace. Within DFO, Conservation and Protection (C&P), Canada's oldest national law enforcement program, is committed to protecting fisheries and aquatic resources through education, partnerships, and compliance monitoring.

Through FOSP, post-secondary students can apply directly to work with DFO through a specialized inventory within the Federal Student Work Experience Program (FSWEP). We are seeking students from diverse backgrounds to support fishery officers across the country, gain hands-on experience, and contribute to a workforce that reflects the communities we serve.

What you will gain

The Fishery Officer Student Program (FOSP) offers post-secondary students a unique opportunity to gain paid, hands-on federal work experience with Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) while exploring the work fishery officers do on a daily basis. Students will work in one of our C&P offices located across the country. They will work alongside experienced fishery officers providing much needed support during the busiest time of year. Students will gain real world exposure to fisheries conservation, learn all about Canada’s fisheries and the laws and regulations used to manage them, and learn how conservation and protection operations function in the field and the important work that goes into being prepared for anything while in the office.

This program will expose students to the realities of the work fishery officers do to protect our aquatic resources. Students will work closely with and supporting fishery officers, which will mean some days are spent in the office, but other days may be helping with a community beach clean-up or heading out to a wharf to watch the offloading of the catch of the day. This summer work experience will certainly not be boring.

C&P is a law enforcement agency, which means safety is always a priority. FOSP aims to provide a safe learning and working environment, to explore the fishery officer's career, and help them prepare for a future application to our Fishery Officer Initial Training (FOIT) program.

Responsibilities and duties

Working alongside fishery officers, students support a range of operational and administrative activities.

As part of a team, students may:

Take part in public education and outreach activities
Accompany fishery officers on their routine patrols
Assist fishery officers in managing fisheries related items and maintaining inventory
Assist with public inquiries, and document preparation
Conduct vehicle, vessel and equipment preparation and maintenance
Perform general office administration and organizational duties

Work environment

Positions may be available across Canada. DFO has 7 regions including:

Pacific
Arctic
Ontario and Prairies
Quebec
Gulf
Maritimes
Newfoundland and Labrador

Students will have the opportunity to select which locations within regions they would like to be considered for. Assignments are determined based on operational needs.

Students will work in an office environment and outdoor settings. Many of our C&P offices are in remote and/or coastal locations.

Housing or relocation assistance will not be provided for this position. Students are responsible for securing their own accommodations and covering any costs associated with relocating to the selected work location.

Training, pay and hours of work

Pay

Students are paid $17.75 to $31.69 per hour, depending on their current level of study.

Refer to Rates of pay for post-secondary school students.

Training

Training is provided at the start of employment to prepare students for their roles.

Training will cover:

Orientation to C&P activities and an introduction to the Fisheries Act and associated legislation
Workplace health and safety
Roles, responsibilities, and operational procedures

Hours of work

Students will be hired to work full-time during the summer (from May to the end of August). Depending on the location and operational need, reemployment during the academic year on a part-time basis is a possibility.

Students should be prepared to work on varying schedules which may include shift work, evenings, weekends, holidays, extended hours, and overtime when operationally required.

Through the summer there may be learning opportunities in other locations; students may need to travel.

Eligibility requirements

To apply, you must:

Be a full-time student registered at a recognized post-secondary institution (CEGEP, college, university)
Be returning to full-time studies in the next academic term
Have an active FSWEP profile and continue to meet program eligibility
Be able to obtain an enhanced reliability and/or enhanced secret security clearance
Be at least 18 years old at the time of the employment
Be physically capable of safely lifting and carrying items weighing between 10 kg and 20 kg on a regular basis
Be physically fit and be able to spend significant periods standing, walking, hiking or working on vessels
Be willing and able to shift work, weekends and holidays, extended hours and overtime on short notice when operationally required
Be willing and able to work outdoors, on, in and near water, in remote and/or coastal locations and in all weather conditions
Be willing and able to travel for work and accept assignments based on operational needs, if required
Possess and maintain a valid Canadian driver’s license, which authorizes you to operate a motor vehicle independently in Canada
Be legally entitled to work in Canada

Important information

Travel required for operational purposes will be arranged and/or reimbursed in accordance with Government of Canada travel directives and departmental policies
Preference will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents over non-Canadian students who are eligible to work in Canada. Refer to the Directive on Student Employment for more information on the Government of Canada's requirements for student employment

Who we are looking for

The ideal candidate is:

Reliable, calm, and able to exercise sound judgment
Motivated, hardworking, and eager to learn
Flexible and comfortable working in both office and field environments
Strong communication skills; ability to communicate in English and/or French depending on the work location
Interested in the marine environment and supporting fishery officers

Conditions of employment

All students must be able and willing to:

Work full-time during the summer period
Work full-time hours and various shifts, including weekends and holidays
Work overtime as required, sometimes with little notice
Work in office, outdoor, and remote or coastal environments
Be posted to an office location in their identified region(s) of choice, as assigned by the employer
Follow all departmental policies, including health and safety and code of conduct
Wear the provided fishery officer student program uniform, as well as personal protective equipment when required
Successfully complete the required training
Obtain a government-issued enhanced reliable and/or enhanced secret security clearance. DFO will help you to apply for security clearance once the interview process is completed

Self-declaring – because you count

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) is dedicated to protecting Canada's aquatic ecosystems, supporting sustainable fisheries, conserving marine habitats, promoting marine safety, and advancing reconciliation and international collaboration. As a public service employer, DFO is committed to fostering an inclusive workplace and a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We recognize the value that diverse perspectives bring to our organization and are committed to removing systemic barriers that may limit equitable access to employment opportunities, beginning with the hiring process.

To support the continued diversification of our workforce, preference will be given to students who self-declare as belonging to one or more of the following employment equity groups, where regional or national representation gaps exist:

Indigenous Peoples
Members of racialized groups
Persons with disabilities
Women

As part of your application for this student employment opportunity, you are encouraged to voluntarily self-declare your membership in any Employment Equity group(s) to which you belong. This information may be used to support employment equity objectives and staffing decisions.

To learn more about self-declaration and how this information is used, please visit the Government of Canada’s Self-declaring for Government of Canada jobs webpage.

How to apply

Apply through the specialized FOSP inventory available on the Federal Student Work Experience Program (FSWEP) page on GC Jobs. The deadline to apply is November 15, 2026.

The application process will include multiple steps:

FSWEP application: Once you have completed and submitted your initial application, you can expect to receive further communication approximately one week after the job advertisement closes. At that time, you will receive an email invitation to complete your candidate profile on the VidCruiter platform.
Candidate application profile in VidCruter platform: Completion of this profile is mandatory to be considered further in the staffing process. Students who do not complete this step within the specified timeframe will not be considered for this job opportunity.

It is your responsibility to regularly monitor your email inbox, including your junk/spam folders, for communications related to this selection process. You must also inform us of any changes to your mailing address, phone number, or email address by contacting DFO.NATCPFOSP-PEAPCPNAT.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
Participate in an interview: Candidates who successfully complete their VidCruiter profile may be invited to participate in a structured interview. The interview is designed to assess the essential qualifications relevant to the student role.
Reference verification: Candidates who are successful in the interview stage may be asked to provide references. References should be individuals who can speak to your work, volunteer, academic, or experience. References may be contacted to verify information provided during the selection process and/or the essential qualifications.
Candidate selection: Candidates will be selected based on operational needs.

We are committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free work environment, starting with the hiring process. If you need to be accommodated during any phase of the evaluation process, please use the contact information below to request specialized accommodation. All information received in relation to accommodation will be kept confidential.

Assessment accommodation

Important dates

Applications for summer 2027 will be accepted from September 2 to November 15, 2026.

Contact us

If you have any questions about the recruitment process or the Fishery Officer Student Program, please email us at: DFO.NATCPFOSP-PEAPCPNAT.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

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Date modified:: 2026-09-02

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