Commercial Fishery Observer - Sci Tech - Part-Time​/On-Call - Non-Perm - Five

Commercial Fishery Observer

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is seeking Commercial Fishery Observers to support the department's commitments made during the Pacific Fishery Management Council/North of Falcon process by ensuring sustainable commercial and recreational fisheries in Willapa Bay and Grays Harbor. These positions are responsible for conducting a variety of on-board sampling and data collection during each fishing trip. The critical in-season data you collect will directly inform real-time management decisions made by state, tribal, and federal co-managers.

Among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, the Commercial Fishery Observers will:

• Perform commercial on-board monitoring duties, including boarding commercial vessels for 12-hour fishery openers, documenting gillnet soak times and mesh size, ensuring compliance with recovery box use, summarizing catch of retained and released fish by species, identifying mark status (presence or absence of adipose fin), detecting coded wire tags (CWTs) using standard protocols, collecting DNA genetic tissue samples, documenting bycatch and incidental encounters, and collecting other biological samples.
• Provide daily updates to supervisor regarding the work progress and/or any emerging issues.
• Maintain professional and courteous interactions with commercial fishermen and buyers that promotes a positive relationship to facilitate cooperation in reporting fishing effort and landings.

Data Management:

• Accurately and legibly record all field data and daily observations made while onboard a commercial vessel, in a fish house, or on a dock.
• Maintain tissue samples (genetics) and/or scale cards collected each day in chronological order.

Working Conditions:

Work Setting, including hazards:

All work is conducted on a commercial fishing vessel in Willapa Bay and/or Grays Harbor basins.

• Work is typically performed outdoors and can be physically demanding. Work long days in inclement weather where it can be cold, windy, rainy, or extremely hot in full sun. These positions will involve working near or over water, including tasks that require navigating, negotiating, and performing duties related to water environments.
• Vessels are typically smaller, and rough weather can be unpleasant and sometimes dangerous. Hazards include boat-to-boat transfers between support vessels and commercial vessels, adverse weather conditions, prolonged standing, bending, maneuvering on a rocking boat, slippery surfaces, loud noises, close quarters, and repetitive tasks for extended periods.
• Board and disembark a commercial vessel in rough weather and stand and squat for long periods. Must be able to make quick but accurate decisions regarding safety.
• Must be able to effectively perform assigned duties while onboard, including during inclement weather. Collecting biological data such as DNA or scale samples on-board a gillnet vessel can be difficult in rough weather, while being cold and dealing with live fish. Most gillnet vessels do not have bathroom facilities.

Schedule:

• These non-permanent, part-time positions are on-call, intermittently scheduled seven (7) days per week during the open commercial salmon fishery season.
• Fisheries operate in 12-hour openers. The hours of work are non-scheduled, hourly, and can be up to 15 hours per day, 3-5 days per week.
• Weekend, holiday, and evening (overnight) work may be required.
• Start and end times typically fall outside of the standard 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. schedule. Must be flexible with schedule and changing circumstances.

Travel Requirements:

• Travel within the Willapa Bay and/or Grays Harbor basins is required.
• Depending on location, round-trip travel may range from two (2) to four (4) hours.
• Frequently travel between the duty station and dock location using a personal vehicle. Mileage reimbursement is provided in accordance with the Office of Financial Management's State Administrative & Accounting Manual (SAAM) and agency policy.

Tools and Equipment:
Personal floatation device (PFDs), DNA kit, thumb counters, scale sample kit (knives, tweezers, hemostats, scale cards, measuring tape), rain gear, coded wire tag (CWT) wand,…