Fish Hatchery Technician

Nevada Department of Wildlife is recruiting to fill one position within the Fisheries Division. Incumbent is responsible for the day-to-day operations at the Mason Valley Fish Hatchery, including all aspects of fish culture from care of the reared fish to maintenance of the facility and grounds as well as delivering fish to stocked waters. The successful candidate will be required to reside in Department housing at the Mason Valley Fish Hatchery.

A deduction of $50 for the current rent amount is taken from the employee's paycheck every two weeks. A refundable $500.00 cleaning/damage deposit will be required at the date of hire or by payroll deduction. This position is being recruited at both the Fish Hatchery Technician 1 and 2 levels. Position may be filled at either level.

• Fish Hatchery Technicians care for fish and adjust feed levels; keep accurate feed and population records; maintain and clean troughs, tanks, ponds, raceways, traps, holding pens and launders; maintain screens, water sources and aeration devices.
• Detect and treat fish disease and parasites; identify and correct stress; remove fish mortalities; maintain records of treatments, chemicals used, and mortalities; test and maintain water quality; separate brood fish by stages of development; take spawn from fish and prepare eggs for shipment or incubation.
• Care for fish eggs and fry by treating with disinfectants and other chemicals as needed; distribute into hatchery troughs; and ensure adequate care is provided during critical periods of growth and development.
• Inspect hauling unit; weigh and load fish; operate and maintain life support systems; operate vehicles; monitor fish and equipment during transport; determine suitable release site and release fish.
• Maintain equipment and structures; respond to emergency situations and equipment malfunctions; conduct inspections; provide routine maintenance; and clean and paint buildings.
• Provide information to the public; explain policies and procedures; give directions; answer questions; and lead tours of facilities in order to maintain good public relations.
• Assist in wildlife management area operations as needed.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

• Graduation from high school or equivalent education and four years of experience in building trades and maintenance of mechanical equipment, two years of which were caring for fish such as adjusting fish feed levels; keeping accurate feed and population records; maintaining and cleaning troughs, tanks, ponds, raceways, traps, holding pens and launders; and/or maintaining screens, water sources and aeration devices at a fish hatchery;
  
  OR one year of experience as a Fish Hatchery Technician I in Nevada State service; OR an equivalent combination of education and experience as described above.
• This is the journey level in the series.

• Working knowledge of: fish feeding practices; trout spawning operations such as checking brood fish for ripeness, and caring for fish eggs and milt; proper care and shipment of green and eyed fish eggs; techniques and precautions used in applying fish treatment chemicals, algecides and herbicides; fish transportation and life support systems; metric systems units of volume and capacity, U.S. equivalents, and conversion factors to calculate chemical applications;
  
  safety procedures used in the operation of specialized tools and equipment such as carpentry and mechanics’ hand and power tools.
• General knowledge of: water quality sampling techniques and tests needed to perform dissolved oxygen tests.
• Ability to: recognize unusual behavior in fish resulting from stress or disease; identify combination of fish fin clips under field conditions to facilitate sorting of fish at spawning stations; sort brood fish by species, sex and degree of ripeness; recognize water source maintenance problem to avoid fish losses; read and comprehend technical reports, manuals and documents pertaining to fish culture; operate and maintain specialized equipment and four-wheel drive vehicles, hauling equipment, arc and gas welding equipment and others.
• Skill in: cleaning and maintaining ponds, troughs, tanks, raceways, screens, aeration devices and water sources.

Kristin Bowling - klbowling