Fisheries Biologist

Fisheries Biologist
Dutch Harbor, AK
 
DESCRIPTION OF WORK:

• Observers live and work aboard U.S.-flagged commercial fishing vessels operating in the Bering Sea, North Pacific, and Gulf of Alaska.  Observers sample catches for species composition, and for the incidence of salmon, halibut, and crab; they make estimates of total catch; and they collect age structures and gather biological data from target species. The National Marine Fisheries Service uses this information for the purposes of both in-season management and to establish fishing quotas for future seasons.
• The vessels we work with make trips of anywhere from one month (this for larger vessels, generally over 150 feet in length, that both catch and process fish) to 14 days (this for smaller vessels, 60 to 135 feet in length, that deliver their catches to shore-based processing plants).

 
LOCATION:

• Following a three-week training, the first two weeks held remotely, the third week in Seattle Washington, Observers fly to Dutch Harbor, Alaska to begin their first deployment. Relocation is not required for this position.

 
CONTRACT INFORMATION:

• Paid training courses are generally held in late December, January, March, April, May, June, and August of each year. North Pacific Groundfish Observers make an initial commitment to take multiple deployments. AOI will be accepting applications now until summer 2023 for trainings from December 2022 to August 2023.

 
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

• During training observers receive $1450 total, meal reimbursement, and lodging is provided.  Upon completion of training, observers are deployed to the field and begin making a salary of $4,305.30 per month.  While deployed, room, board, and travel to and from the job site are taken care of.  Health insurance is offered.
• We encourage observers who are successful during their first contract to return and make additional deployments for AOI. Observers receive incremental salary increases depending on the amount of time they have spent in the field. Currently, our top salary for experienced North Pacific observers is $6,821.40 per month.
• The National Marine Fisheries Service provides observers with survival suits, life-vests, and hard hats, along with all sampling equipment.

 
Serious applicants only please. Training starts on August 7th in Seattle, WA.
 
This job always starts with a 3-week paid training, which gets you certified to be an observer. During the training in Seattle, WA, there is company housing that you stay at. The flight to Seattle is covered by you, then the flight to/from AK after training is covered by AOI. If driving to Seattle, there is street parking at the apartments, and then long-term parking at NOAA while deployed.
 
For the North Pacific/Alaska program you are then deployed to Dutch Harbor, Alaska for 70-95 days at a time working/living on commercial fishing vessels. While on the vessel you collect biological data to help manage the fisheries. You ID fish to the species level, count and weigh them, collect otoliths/ take sex/lengths, keep track of fishing effort, and other tasks assigned by NOAA. There is a lot of paperwork to fill out, we don't have office hours or lab time, it is straight field work. We aren't out there trying to change/educate the fishermen at all, just collecting data. No relocation is required for this job, just deployments.
 
The initial contract people sign varies between 4 months and 15 months long. Broken up by those smaller deployments of 70-95 days. There is no set schedule for this job, so we ask that people be flexible during their first contract. There is also new hire bonuses available.
 
DO YOU HAVE THESE MANDATORY QUALIFICATIONS?

• Completed Bachelor's degree with a major in a natural science such as Fisheries & Wildlife, Biology, Marine Science, Marine Biology, Ecology, etc.
• A minimum of 30 credit hours in applicable biological sciences.
• At least one course in both math and statistics.
• Coursework that emphasized the use of dichotomous (taxonomic) keys.
• Must be a US Citizen or have permanent residency.
• Full Vaccination is required.
• Prior sea time is not required.