Boat Officer 4 (Captain

Job Description

Effective July 1, 2026 the wage for this position increased by 2.5%. The wage listed in this job posting reflects the increase.

This position is open to Alaska Residents only.

Please check our

residency definition

to determine if you qualify.

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Commercial Fisheries is recruiting

for a Boat Officer 4 located in Homer, Alaska!

This position is responsible for the safe operation, navigation/piloting, and maintenance of the R/V Equinox. This 85 ft vessel is currently in refit status, nearing completion in Newport, Oregon. The Equinox will serve as a working base for at sea biological assessment projects by conducting fisheries surveys and on-site management of commercial fisheries. The incumbent in this position will be asked to locate and obtain biological samples using a wide variety of commercial gear types including;

longlines, bottom and surface trawls, drift gillnets, dredges, pots and ROV transects while adhering to requirements and techniques of scientific procedure. Duties also include supervising a vessel crew of 3 or more in addition to administrative tasks such as:
Budget oversight and expense tracking. Preparing detailed “requests for quotations” for major maintenance and repair projects. Implementing and monitoring shipyard work while adhering to procurement procedures.

The mission of ADF&G is to protect, maintain, and improve the fish, game, and aquatic plant resources of the state, and manage their use and development in the best interest of the economy and the well‑being of the people of the state, consistent with the sustained yield principle. The core services of the Commercial Fisheries Division are to ensure the conservation of natural stocks of fish, shellfish and aquatic plants based on scientifically sound assessments.

Through coordination with staff biologist, the Equinox captain will conduct vessel-based surveys to collect assessment data necessary to achieve these goals. The work conducted from this vessel supports the sustainable management of some of the most important fisheries in the state including Bristol Bay salmon, Norton Sound king crab, Yukon River Chinook salmon and southeast Alaska rockfish fishery.

This position will provide opportunity to work in some of the most exciting marine environments in Alaska on a state vessel equipped with modern electronics and fishing equipment. The incumbent will work with a wide variety of highly competent staff while conducting important fisheries surveys across the state. The wide variety of fishery gear types employed creates a challenging opportunity for a team‑oriented mariner with a solid working knowledge of multiple gear types.

The incumbent is provided with medical benefits, paid leave and sea duty pay. Sea duty is additional compensation for days at sea.

The Equinox is home ported in Homer and conducts research/assessment work in Cook Inlet, North Gulf Coast, Prince William Sound, Bristol Bay, Norton Sound and southeast Alaska. Captain and vessel crew will be living aboard the vessel for between 80 and 120 days a year while on surveys. Under normal conditions a 12 hour day is standard and 24‑hour operation is often required during long range transits between surveys.

While in port between surveys, or in off season the incumbent divides “in town” tasks between administrative duties and vessel maintenance, repairs and upgrades.

We are interested in candidates who possess some or all of the following position specific competencies:

Ability to communicate effectively with a wide variety of staff with experience levels ranging from novice to highly experienced researchers with extensive maritime and fisheries experience.

Effective, adaptive, and documentable supervision of crew while ven skills in resolving personnel issues in a fair, effective manner.

Extensive “hands‑on” operation and maneuvering of a deep draft vessel in heavy currents, wind and seas, often while restricted in ability to maneuver.

Commercial fishing…