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Salary- $39,528.00 – $51,432.00 Annually

Conducts test fishing and on-the-water boat surveys in multiple Marine Areas of Puget Sound for salmon fisheries.  Tasks include, but are not limited to:

• Use a variety of fishing methods (e.g., weight and bait, downrigger, jigging, diver) to emulate the recreational salmon fishing fleet.
• Operate outboard and inboard motorboats, including trailering, coming along side other boats in motion, launching and docking, in all types of weather conditions.
• Collect biological data on salmon catch to obtain stock composition (DNA), age structure (scales), length information (legal and sublegal proportions) and hatchery/natural-origin(mark-status) proportions.
• Assess overall health rating to each fish prior to release to aid in our attempts to look at survival of released fish.
• Summarize the amount of time spent on fishing each method.
• Record data using electronic data forms – ensure data is accurately recorded, summarized, and uploaded to Puget Sound Sampling Units’ data base.

Samples recreational fisheries for salmon, marine fish, and shellfish catch to determine the catch per unit of effort and species composition to obtain valid sport catch estimates for salmon and other marine fish.  Sampling for coded-wire tags (CWT) and biological data.  Tasks include but are not limited to: 

• Interview as many recreational fishery anglers as possible at assigned boat launch facilities.
• Properly implement interview procedures and sampling protocols, and accurately record data on appropriate electronic or paper forms.
• Observe, count, and accurately identify all salmon and marine fish species.

WORKING CONDITIONS: 

• Work Setting, including hazards: 
  1. Work is performed both inside and outside – during inclement weather and rough sea conditions.
  2. Fieldwork includes noise, odors, repetitive movements of hands, finger manipulations, squatting, walking, operating boats, climbing into/out of boats, sampling salmon in boats, kneeling, carrying, occasionally lifting heavy containers/coolers of fish (up to 40 lbs.), working/standing in confined space, fish blood and slime, slippery surfaces, biting/stinging insects, and the use of knives.
• Schedule: 
  1. 24/7 non-scheduled, 40 hours per week, weekend and evening work required.
  2. Typically, 8 to 10 hours per day between the hours of 5:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m.
• Travel Requirements: 
  1. Puget Sound area with seldom overnight travel.
• Tools and Equipment: 
  1. Outboard motorboat operation including proper and safe fueling, boat trailer, GPS, compass, data logger, fishing tackle and gear including downriggers, computer, pick-up trucks, cell phones, electronic sampling equipment, iPads, weighing scale, very high frequency (VHF) radio, Automatic Identification System (AIS), Radar, calculator, and knives.
  2. Personal Floatation Device (PFD), marine survival suit, rubber boots, and rain gear.
• Customer Interactions: 
  1. Interacts with the public during data collection and provides basic information regarding fish resources as well as agency programs and activities.
  2. Provides sport fishing regulatory information to the public – includes some contact with those who may be frustrated.
  3. Liaison to regional supervisor on fishery violations observed in the field.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

            OR 

Please Note: College course work involving major study in biology, zoology, fisheries, chemistry, natural sciences, or closely allied field will substitute, year for year, for experience, provided the course work includes at least six semester or nine quarter hours of natural science classes.

Experience: 

• Six (6) months or more experience safely operating 16–23-foot motorboats in marine waters of Puget Sound or an equivalent area.
• Six (6) months or more of recreational salmon fishing experience in marine waters.

Certifications/Licenses: 

• Valid unrestricted driver’s license.
• Obtain First Aid/CPR Certification within six (6) months of hire.
• Successful completion of agency training and/or certification for assigned watercraft dependent on supervisory direction, position need and training availability.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: 

Experience: 

• Twelve (12) months of experience test fishing for salmon in Puget Sound.
• Twelve (12) months of experience sampling fisheries in Puget Sound.
• Twelve (12) months experience operating 16–23-foot motorboats in marine waters of Puget Sound or an equivalent area.
• Safe operation of vessel at times in adverse conditions in the Puget Sound and proficient use of typical marine electronics (e.g., GPS, depth finder, radar, radio).
• Experience working with members of the public.

Skills and abilities: 

• Able to identify all salmon species, common marine fish species, and crab species.
• Familiar with salmon, marine fish, and shellfish life histories and sport fishing regulations.
• Safe operation of vessel at times in adverse conditions in the Puget Sound and proficient use of typical marine electronics (e.g., GPS, depth finder, radar, radio).
• Excellent attention to detail and good communication skills.
• The use of sound judgement where safety of you and co-workers are concerned.