Ocean Fisheries Roving Port Sampler - Scientific Technician - Career Seasonal

Ocean Fisheries Roving Port Sampler - Scientific Technician 2 - Career Seasonal
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Title-Ocean Fisheries Roving Port Sampler
Classification-Scientific Technician 2
Job Status-Full-Time/Career Seasonal
Season Length-9 months,February 1 – October 31
WDFW Program-Fish Program
Duty Station-Montesano, Washington – Grays Harbor County

Learn more about being a member of Team WDFW !

Join the WDFW Team to collect catch, effort, and biological data from ocean recreational and commercial troll fisheries, including salmon, halibut, bottomfish, and albacore.

Working with minimal supervision, the roving sampler will travel to multiple ocean ports, conduct angler interviews, examine marine fish catches, and collect biological data such as scales, DNA, otoliths, and Coded Wire Tags (CWTs).

What to Expect-
Among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, the Ocean Fisheries Roving Port Sampler will,

Conduct port sampling of recreational and commercial fisheries:

• Collect catch, effort, and biological data from the ocean recreational and commercial troll fisheries through standardized angler interviews, including fish handling, examination of marine fish catches, accurate species identification, and collection of various biological data.
• Provide feedback and make judgments daily regarding sampling protocols and field procedures which directly affect the statistical validity of data used by ocean fishery managers.
• Record, summarize, and chart field data utilizing electronic devices, software programs, and paper forms, including daily synchronization of collected data into external databases, emphasizing promptness and error-free records.
• Regular professional interactions with sport, tribal, and commercial fishermen to explain WDFW research projects, procedures, and objectives, and to enlist their cooperation in reporting fish encounters, recording the types and locations of catches, and determining overall fishing effort.
• Travel to and from coastal Washington ports to provide the field sampling units with gear, collect data, and facilitate communication between sampling units and supervisory staff.

Gear management:

• Maintain sampling gear inventory, replenish lost or broken equipment, and clean and prepare gear for field use.

Data review:

• Review and error-check catch data, biological data, and video counts and scan and inventory historical data files.

Working Conditions:

Work Setting, including hazards:

• Position is 70% fieldwork and 30% office work.
• Work hours include long and odd hours during the ocean fisheries. Fieldwork hours are spent sitting, standing, walking, bending, negotiating steep ramps, slippery surfaces, unstable docks, boarding vessels, and lifting, handling, and manipulating fish up to 60 pounds.
• This position may involve working on or near water, including tasks that require navigating, negotiating, and performing duties related to water environments.
• Work involves utilizing or being close to sharp sampling tools and fishing gear and can occur in busy fish houses or cannery rooms around various equipment and machinery.
• Coastal temperatures and weather extremes may be encountered in the field.

Schedule: Non-scheduled, 24/7. Monday - Sunday, 40 hours per week. Weekend work, non-consecutive days off, occasional long hours, and holiday work are required. May work more than 40 hours per week.

Destination overnight stays of up to four (4) consecutive nights.

Travel Requirements: Daily travel to ports within Washington, including up to eight (8) hours of driving daily, and occasional overnight stays are required.

Tools and Equipment: Knives, scissors, tweezers, hemostats, measuring board, personal flotation device, iPad, cell phone, T wand, passive integrated transponder (PIT) tag reader, and laptop.

Customer Interactions: Daily interactions with co-workers from WDFW and Tribal members, commercial anglers, salmon buyers, fish processors, recreational anglers, and the public during data collection. Includes occasional contact with individuals who are angry, distraught, or frustrated. Answer questions, explain sampling policy and methodology, distribute catch, quota, and regulatory information, and answer…