Poachers, Polluters and Politics: A Fishery Officer's Career

by Randy Nelson

Retired fishery officer Randy Nelson's first love was catching poachers. That obsession, plus a devious mind and enthusiasm for marathon running, spelled big trouble for law-breaking fishermen. Thirty-five years in the field (and stream) netted a gold mine of with hair-raising tales of grizzly bear attacks; angry axe-wielding, rock-throwing, shotgun-blasting fishermen and high-speed chases on dirt roads and through bush; Poachers, Polluters and Politics provides a rare glimpse into the lives of DFO officers and the communities in which they live. Here too are stories showing the lighter side of the DFO, like how Nelson honed his "psychic powers," and recollections of life in a rodent-infested, government-issue trailer--where his wife Lorraine once awoke to find a mouse chewing her hair.

Firm but fair, and always innovative, Randy Nelson usually earned the--often grudging--respect of communities and fishermen he encountered. Whether it meant carving a peephole in a hollow tree or teaching his dog to sniff for salmon, Nelson was constantly scheming up new and tricky ways to catch poachers and polluters, many of them known violent criminals. Nelson spent a career dedicated to protecting BC's waters and fish population and his passion for his work shines through with every word, drawing the reader into the exciting world of protecting wildlife and prosecuting bad guys.

288 pages, Paperback

First published April 11, 2014

Reviews

[Tikiri Herath · Rating 4 out of 5]

Feisty. Funny. Fishy!

[Colby · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was just great. Gave some interesting insight into the inner working of being a conservation officer and showed how the job has changed over time. Both for the officer and in the eyes of the government/public citizens. Honestly one of my favorite books of all time and ever when I reread it, those crazy stories and adventures still make me laugh.

[Shawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great read for any proud British Columbian. Randy Nelson gives us plenty of absurd, hilarious, and interesting anecdotes from his lengthy career with the Dept of Fisheries and Oceans. As a nice bonus to all the laughs, you'll also gain some thought-provoking insight into the conservation of our natural resources.

[Mortira · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poachers, Polluters and Politics delivers exactly what it promises - entertaining stories from the career of an enthusiastic Fisheries officer. Put this one on your summer reading list if you've ever lived on the West Coast, worked in government, or just love the outdoors.

[Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

This superb read, spanning the career of West Coast fisheries officer Randy Nelson, was something else. You'd think "too many anecdotes" would undermine a book's readability, but Randy does an excellent job keeping things relevant, entertaining, and accessible. Covering the 1970s to the 2010s, it's full of many great lessons on conservation, reconciliation, fisheries, bureaucracy, and law enforcement.

Definitely a worthwhile read for anyone interested in Canadian fisheries, DFO, the great outdoors, and the West Coast!