The Bureau of Law Enforcement's primary responsibility is enforcing laws and regulations that protect wildlife and its habitat. Highly trained Conservation Officers patrol the state and its waters using the latest in law enforcement technology as well as traditional methods.

Fish and Wildlife Violations Information
Deputy Conservation Officer Program
Training
Fish/Wildlife Law Enforcement
Marine Law Enforcement
News Releases
Contact Information
NJ's Marine Conservation Officers Using Progressive Techniques to Protect Wildlife

For information on becoming a Conservation Officer see the Employment page.

Conservation Officers, because they are uniformed employees, are the division’s most visible representatives, contacting thousands of citizens each year. In the field they educate and redirect the actions of wildlife users to ensure compliance with division policies and the specifics of the Fish and Game Codes, marine regulations and other land use regulations. This serves to prevent abuses to the environment and help people enjoy wildlife in safe and ethical ways.

Conservation Officers patrol the state and its waters using the latest technology and equipment available to law enforcement, while not abandoning the more traditional methods of apprehending violators. Contacting the state's citizens in a variety of capacities is one of the top priorities of the Bureau of Law Enforcement.

The "Hooked on Fishing, Not Drugs" program has generated interest throughout the state with involvement of both Conservation Officers and Deputy Conservation Officers. Each year, law enforcement personnel contact thousands of citizens to educate both the hunting and non-hunting public to ensure compliance with division policies and specifics of the Fish and Game Codes, marine regulations, and other land use regulations.

While core responsibilities of Conservation Officers and deputies have remained constant through the last 100 years, there is a continued emphasis on community policing initiatives. As homes continue to be built in areas with abundant wildlife and where hunting occurs, Conservation Officers must work to balance the safety of the public and the lawful harvest of game. The difficulty increases when dealing with people who have relocated into rural areas and enjoy wildlife resources but don’t have an understanding of hunting and wildlife management.

Each year Conservation Officers assist with programs designed specifically for children, such as fishing derbies. These programs bring people with an interest in wildlife closer to the officers. With a better understanding of the public by Conservation Officers and of Conservation Officers by the public, the bureau can better protect our wildlife and serve our citizens.

The bureau created a Special Investigation Unit to investigate illegal commercialization of our wildlife resources. Officers who volunteer for this program receive special training and equipment in order to investigate wildlife cases referred by uniformed Conservation Officers. Officers who operate in a covert status can compile an extensive list of charges for the assigned uniform officer to file at the conclusion of an investigation.

Computers linked to state and national motor vehicle and criminal history information allow the bureau to obtain information essential to the Conservation Officers’ safety and ability to thoroughly investigate complaints.

Deputy Program

Deputy Conservation Officers are volunteers who work not only without compensation, but purchase their own equipment. The program was discontinued in 2008.

Training

Training remains a high priority to keep skill levels high. Conservation Officers and deputies attend classes in a range of disciplines including defensive tactics, firearms, interview techniques, less than lethal force alternatives and wildlife law. All bureau officers receive instruction on the Attorney General’s Police Pursuit Guidelines and domestic violence issues.

The bureau maintains a staff of instructors with expertise in firearms, defensive tactics and first aid. Other staff instructors continue to enhance their skills by attending advanced classes within their respective disciplines.

All personnel complete Sexual Harassment Training to remain current on the social issues in the workplace. Captains and Trenton staff attend additional training at the State Police Academy for an in-depth examination of this sensitive topic.

Fish and Wildlife Law Enforcement

Every year Conservation Officers inspect more than 50,000 persons hunting, fishing, clamming or visiting wildlife management areas. These inspections result in the issuance of thousands of summonses and hundreds of written warnings.

General patrols by Conservation Officers in four-wheel drive vehicles, on foot or boat are the most common means of detecting or deterring violations. However, a significant number of apprehensions are the result of thorough investigations as a result of calls from sportsmen/women and the public. Use of wildlife decoys has significantly decreased the amount of incidents of individuals shooting wildlife from vehicles. The increased use of cellular phones by the public has helped apprehend some violators.

The past few years has seen a significant amount of officers’ time spent assisting the Wildlife Control Unit with nuisance bear complaints, especially those which might require the use of a dart gun or adverse conditioning. Many other situations were handled concerning displaced or injured wildlife, especially during “off hours” and weekends.

Marine Law Enforcement

(Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland, Monmouth, Ocean, and Salem counties; Delaware Bay north to the New York state line and the Atlantic Ocean up to 3 miles off shore)

Marine enforcement officers spend considerable patrol time in open as well as condemned clamming areas, where the direct harvest of shellfish is strictly prohibited to ensure public health. Marine enforcement officers also monitor the hard clam relay and hard/soft clam depuration programs on a daily basis. These programs allow the use of a resource which could otherwise imperil public health if harvested and sold illegally.

Weakfish enforcement in Delaware Bay continues to be a challenge due to widespread hook and line commercialization. Anglers either far exceed the 14 fish limit on a single trip or make repeated trips on a single day and then land multiple daily bag limits. Additionally, many anglers violate the 14-inch size limit on weakfish. The marine region also deals extensively with enforcement of New Jersey’s commercial and recreational summer flounder regulations.

Officers from the marine region conduct extensive investigations into the smuggling of illegal lobsters. The sale of sublegal lobsters is extremely lucrative, fetching prices between $15 and $25 per dozen tails with claws. Lobsterers have developed elaborate schemes to land these lobsters, from hiding them in hollowed out rope spools or in secret onboard compartments, to having sport fishing boats rendezvous at predetermined locations to pick up lobsters dropped there.

Marine region officers will continue to enforce the ever-changing marine statutes and regulations designed to protect and enhance the marine resources of New Jersey while providing equitable resource allocation to all users.

News Releases

NJ Conservation Officers Net Eight Anglers for Illegally Taking and Selling River Herring - May 7, 2009
Conservation Officers Receive Ice Rescue Training - February 11, 2009