Ocean Career: OAI Marine Fish and Shellfish Aquaculture

Aquaculture And Marine Fish And Shellfish Biology Program

Ocean Associates, Inc. (OAI) is seeking a candidate to submit in response to a request for proposal to support the Northwest Fisheries Science Center (NWFSC) Environmental Fisheries Science (EFS) Division's Aquaculture and Marine Fish and Shellfish Biology Program. OAI conducts research, offers policy advice, and provides personnel support services to government and industry clients for marine fisheries and protected species.

The purpose of the Aquaculture and Marine Fish and Shellfish Biology Program is to study biological questions pivotal to the sustainability of natural marine fish and shellfish populations and their artificial propagation for aquaculture. The goal is to utilize information gained from studying wild populations to enhance aquaculture. In reverse, information gained from experiments on artificial propagation can be used to understand the dynamics of wild marine fish and shellfish populations and to aid in their management.

Our science is used by commercial and NGO partners to enable and optimize their aquaculture operations.

The employee shall culture marine fish and shellfish. The employee shall be required to participate in the construction and maintenance of life support systems for the culture of marine fish and shellfish and in the propagation and husbandry of adult larval marine fish and shellfish. The employee will be expected to maintain records of the physical characteristics of life support systems and of the animals being maintained in those systems.

Task 1 – Life Support Systems

The employee shall be responsible for the building, plumbing, maintaining and repairing marine egg, larval and adult fish and shellfish holding and culture systems including recirculation aquaculture systems (RAS), flow-through tank systems, and net-pen systems at the NOAA Manchester Research Station.

Task 2 – Animal Husbandry

The employee shall perform routine husbandry of fish and shellfish egg, larval and adult holding and culture systems including cleaning and disinfecting tanks, incubators, silos, and all associated plumbing. The employee shall perform routine maintenance of nets and feed containers on net-pens.

Task 3 – Live Feeds

The employee shall be responsible for the production and feeding of live feeds (e.g., rotifers, artemia, and algae) for fish and shellfish and in the production and feeding of diets to adult fish and shellfish.

Task 4 – Data Collection

The employee shall conduct data during the spawning and rearing of fish and shellfish. This shall include tagging fish, assessing growth, and any other variables measured during experiments conducted by NOAA scientists on marine fish and shellfish adults, larvae, and eggs. The employee shall also conduct daily, weekly, and monthly data on the physical and chemical parameters of the life support systems.

Requirements

Applicants must have the following minimum qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree, or higher, from an accredited college or university with a major in fisheries biology, zoology, environmental studies, aquaculture, or a related field, plus at least 2 years of experience in the task order duties.
• Knowledge and/or experience in rearing and maintaining fish and shellfish in culture.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively both individually and collaboratively in a team/group setting.
• Ability to receive constructive feedback and implement appropriate action.