Oyster​/Clam Farmer

Salary Range

$17.50 - $25.00 Hourly

Level

Entry

Position Type

Full Time

Job Shift

Varied schedule based on tide.

Wage Range: $17.50 Hourly+ Piecework Bonus

This job will primarily be in our Totten and Little Skookum Inlet locations.

The clam and oyster farmer, works in the intertidal area of the beach and is responsible for taking part in the harvest which is done primarily by forking or handpicking oysters into a container such as an oyster tub or bushel basket or using a clam fork to harvest clams. Forking involves using a pitchfork like device that you push along the surface of the beach to collect oysters.

The clam digger will harvest clams either by wet or dry digging. Wet digging is done by standing in knee to thigh deep water while using a dredging fork (a long handled pitchfork like tool) to shift through substrate to harvest clams. Dry digging is performed by kneeling on the beach and using a hand help rake to turn over the substrate to harvest market size clams.

The clams harvested are placed into a four-gallon bucket. When the bucket is full the digger empties the clams into a net sack. The digger will open car covers or clam nets as needed. At the conclusion of the days digging each digger is responsible to load his/her sacks into the boat and, once transported to the beach, load onto the truck as well.

P
HORIZONTAL DEMANDS/REQUIRED

SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Must complete safety orientation prior to working on the beach.
• Must be physically able to lift and handle sixty pounds.
• Must wear proper safety gear when necessary.
• Must work well with crew members.
• Must be capable of understanding and following orders.
  
  Follow crew boss instructions and be accountable to them
• Must be able to work outside in all weather conditions and various times of the day and night.
• May be required to work at other work sites/locations as needed
• May be required to do other tasks as needed
• Must pick up any garbage found on the beach and never leave any of their own garbage on the beach.
• Ability to stand and/or walk on uneven ground
• The employee may be required to stoop, bend, kneel, twist, and squat
• The vision requirements include: close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus
• Must be able to speak and hear well enough to communicate with co-workers.
• Must be able to use hands for repetitive simple grasping, pushing, pulling and fine manipulation