The Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) has said it intends to move two fisheries officers now stationed in Madeira Park to a consolidated office, although DFO wouldn't say where that office is or when the change would occur.
"Consolidating officers from two-person offices who are currently often unable to perform required duties into larger, better-resourced centres will be phased in across the country over the next two years," DFO spokesperson Melanie Carkner told Coast Reporter this week.
The move is part of DFO's plan to be more effective, said DFO media relations person Frank Stanek.
"Consolidations will not result in fewer fishery officers," he said. "Larger, consolidated and properly resourced offices will provide better overall results in terms of conservation and enforcement while at the same time providing Canadians with better value for their tax dollars."
He said the change will "free up resources" to allow DFO to focus on things like data analysis, intelligence gathering, special cases and operations.
Coast Reporter inquiries about when the move will occur and where the consolidated offices will be located were not answered by press time.
