Ocean Career: Fisheries Technician at the Pacific States Marine Fisheries CommissionECO Posted On June 7, 2021
Fisheries Technicians perform duties related to the protection, preservation, propagation, and sampling of fish species and the preservation or enhancement of their habitat.
They use knowledge of procedural requirements and processes to support the technical work of their unit. They provide practical technical support to research, operations, or program administration efforts.
Position/Project Specifics:
This position will be part of the Cooperative Ageing Project in Newport, OR. The Ageing Lab was established to production age marine fish structures and then route the data to the appropriate database/personnel. The cooperation is primarily between NOAA Fisheries - Northwest Fisheries Science Center (NWFSC) and the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission (PSMFC). The primary structures aged by this lab are otoliths sampled from the commercial catch and federal surveys. These age data provide direct support to US West Coast stock assessments. Age data helps determine biological attributes of a population such as mortality rate, growth rate, age at maturity, etc. Quality control is monitored through a process of double reads and analysis. Double reads occur at frequent intervals and involve two or more age readers. One age reader will select 10-20% of a previously aged sample for a second reader to age. This lab follows age reading criteria standardized through multi-agency cooperation in the Committee of Age Reading Experts (C.A.R.E.). This is a microscope intensive job and high attention to detail is a must.
Essential Functions:
Collect and organize biological and habitat samples and collections (such as scales, otoliths, ageing structures, other tissues, water quality, etc.).Summarize and input biological or habitat data on field forms, electronic data loggers, and/or desktop computers. May assist with preliminary data summaries and analyses, technical report writing, or database management.Perform precision ageing of various fish species in a laboratory setting. Record age and growth data in the appropriate format.Knowledge Required by the Position:
At the lower end of the range, employees use knowledge of basic arithmetic, reading, writing, and data collection to perform routine or repetitive tasks.
At the upper end of the position range, employees use knowledge of the basic principles and protocols of fish biology to make readings, measurements, and observations; execute tests; collect samples, etc. If complex equipment systems are operated, the employee has the knowledge to perform calibrations or adjustments to achieve desired results.
Additional Mandatory Skills:
Fish ageing (scale, otolith, other)Compile and collect neat and accurate dataSoftware skills (spreadsheet, word processing, database, GIS, statistical)Image capture/analysisPhysical Demands:
Must be able to work at microscope for long periods of time.
Most of the work is performed in an office setting with adequate lighting, heating, and ventilation.
Qualifications:
A range of experience and education may be presented. At the lower end of the range, candidates must present six months of General Experience* OR one year of education above the high school level that included at least six semester hours in any combination of scientific or technical courses. An equivalent combination of experience and education is also qualifying.
At the upper end of the range, candidates must present one year of Specialized Experience** OR a 4-year course of study above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with a major or at least 24 semester hours of coursework in any combination of scientific or technical courses. An equivalent combination of experience and education is also qualifying.
General Experience is (1) any type of work that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work of the position or (2) experience that provided a familiarity with biological sciences or the processes of the biological sciences.
**Specialized Experience is experience that equips the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position and is typically in or related to the work of the position being filled.
Location: PSMFC NWFSC Newport
Project Length: 12 months or more
Position Type: Full-Year
Travel Requirements: Up to 10%
Water Vessel Operation: No
Driving: None
Salary Target: $16.95/hour
Application Deadline: Jun 18, 2021
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