Fishery Biologist 1- Ocean Salmon Scale Lab

Position/Project Specifics:

• Read scales from all four runs of Central Valley Chinook salmon. Clean, mount and digitally image scales, and train permanent and seasonal laboratory staff in these scale ageing processes.
  Act as lead for permanent and seasonal laboratory staff to ensure proper ocean CWT tracking, extraction, and reading protocols are established and followed as part of the State’s Constant Fractional Marking program. Coordinate transportation and storage of ocean salmon heads containing CWTs at the Santa Rosa laboratory. Ensures project staff process ocean CWTs in a timely manner, data are entered and validated, and provides results. Determine processing priorities and provides project staff to assist in recovery of ocean CWTs in the field as needed.
  Oversee sport and commercial ocean salmon fishery monitoring and collection of salmon heads, lead and train staff in field data and sample collection, sample sport and commercial fisheries, ensure the project’s sampling objectives are met.
  Enter field data from ocean salmon fisheries and Central Valley salmon hatcheries and coded-wire tag data from ocean salmon fisheries and Central Valley surveys. Maintain and enter daily activity logs and provide weekly progress summaries. Run routine data QAQC checks and assist with annual data clean-up and statistical analyses.
  Recover CWTs from salmon heads and read CWT codes utilizing a microscope.
  Assists with other project functions as needed, including database management and equipment maintenance.
  May assist other projects as needed, including fishery-independent research.

Essential Functions:  

• Lead and participate in survey crews that conduct fishery presence/absence research, recreational/commercial fishing surveys, anadromous fish escapement surveys (carcass, redd, trap/weir, snorkel, etc.), or tag detection and mark recovery surveys. Make standardized observations such as species identification, length, weight, behavior, growth, survival, reproductive condition, and/or signs of parasites, diseases or pathogens, fin clips or tags.
• Lead and perform data entry for data from recovered tags, representative biological samples, telemetry devices, oceanographic data, fish tickets, commercial landing estimates, logbooks, scale cards, port sampling, onboard observers, etc. Error check the data, maintain and update database, analyze and organize data in the appropriate format (table, spreadsheet, memorandum, or report) necessary for transfer to individuals, agencies, and organizations. Modify software programs and perform data queries. Prepare summary reports to transfer data.
• Lead crew or assist hatchery manager with maintenance of fish including feeding fish, cleaning tanks, establishing feeding schedules, assessing growth, and monitoring fish health. Collect samples of blood and tissues. Monitor and maintain facility systems, equipment, and water quality. Maintain records of data and perform routine analysis.
• Assist researchers in investigations of long term and short term fisheries resource management problems. Collect biological samples, record data, perform routine analyses of data, and contribute draft sections to scientific papers for publication.
• Establish and direct sport, commercial, hatchery, and natural spawn sampling and bio-sampling protocols to best meet data requirements.

Knowledge Required by the Position:

• Knowledge of fishery biology (including knowledge of particular species of fish).
• Knowledge of fish husbandry.
• Knowledge of aquatic habitats.
• Knowledge of the scientific method.
• Knowledge of personal computer applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, e-mail, publishing software, presentation software, database software, topographic software, bibliographic software, and statistical analysis packages.
• Knowledge of technical writing protocols.
• Knowledge of statistics and mathematics.
• Knowledge of database management.
• Knowledge of programming languages such as SQL .

Additional Mandatory Skills: 

• elec. detection technology
• lift 40-50 lbs.
• valid driver’s license
• fish ageing (scale, otolith, other)
• fish species ID skills
• using fish keys
• compile and collect neat and accurate data
• handheld data recorder
• specific software skills (spreadsheet, word processing, database, GIS, statistical)
• oral communication skills
• written communication skills
• repair & maintain equipment

Physical Demands:

Demands can range from sedentary, to moderate –where there is walking, climbing stairs and ladders, reaching, lifting, and bending, to rigorous.  In the latter case, the employee must be able to handle buckets of water or gear weighing up to 50 pounds.  Long daily periods of hiking, carrying equipment, swimming, and/or standing may be required.  Some work requires the ability to maintain footing in fast-moving water.

Work Environment:

Some work is performed in an office setting with adequate lighting, heating and ventilation.  Some work may be performed in fish processing labs, fish holding areas, and/or in the field.  Employees may work on narrow, elevated walkways and platforms that are over or adjacent to water.  Field work involves exposure to all types of weather, slippery rocks or docks, trails, irregular terrain, insects, poison oak, rough or fast-moving water, or cold water temperatures. Work at high elevations or aboard boats may be required.

Minimum Qualification Requirements:

A range of education and experience may be presented.  At the lower end of the range, candidates must present successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor’s or higher degree that included a major in biological science with at least 6 semester hours in aquatic subjects and at least 12 semester hours in the animal sciences.  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 year of graduate education that is directly related to the work of the position.

**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.  To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled.