The WCR Aquaculture Program, in the Associate Deputy Regional Administrator Division (ADRA), Policy and Planning Branch, works to support sustainable commercial marine aquaculture development and restoration aquaculture in coordination with NOAA’s trust resources responsibilities to conserve and restore marine resources on the West Coast.
NOAA requires contractor support for the development of an Aquaculture Opportunity Area (AOA) in southern California and associated NEPA Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS); conducting NEPA, and coordinating associated ESA section 7 and Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) consultations pursuant to the ESA and MSA respectively; coordinating between the WCR NEPA program, Protected Resources and Sustainable Fisheries divisions and General Counsel regarding writing, reviewing and commenting on draft sections of the NEPA programmatic EIS that address effects and interactions between marine aquaculture and marine resources in the Southern California Bight.
Key tasks include the following:
- Under the direction and guidance of the Policy and Planning Branch Chief and the Regional Aquaculture Coordinator for WCR/California (RAC), the NEPA/ESA Aquaculture Specialist shall provide assistance to the Regional Aquaculture Coordinator and the AOA Core Team to conduct internal/cross-division coordination in support of preparation of the PEIS for the Southern California AOA; this will include: scheduling meetings, preparing team meeting agendas, taking meeting notes, tracking action items, maintaining the associated Google docs file for the Team, assisting in meeting facilitation and ensuring meeting notes and other communications comply with administrative record guidance. The contractor will also assist in coordination, meetings, discussions, and track action items resulting from interactions with the Southwest Fisheries Science Center, NCCOS, and the Office of Aquaculture Science Program in support of the AOA PEIS process.
- Participate as necessary and in coordination with the RAC, Protected Resources Division, Sustainable Fisheries Division, and the National Ocean Service to compile, synthesize, analyze and manage data that informs development of the AOA PEIS.
- Work with the RAC and regional and Headquarters Communications staff to contribute to internal and external outreach and overall AOA process messaging throughout the AOA process, including assisting with webinars, public comment periods, and FAQs.
- Support the RAC for other WCR aquaculture projects, including but not limited to assisting with the operation of the Southern California Offshore Aquaculture Interagency Working Group. This includes working with a facilitator to develop agendas, scheduling Working Group meetings, note-taking, and potential facilitation assistance during meetings.
- Coordinate with WCR Area Office staff to provide assistance in support of their consultations on aquaculture actions. Assistance could include providing resources such as general aquaculture information, literature citations, webinars and other presentations.
- Participate in working groups, internal and external discussions, assist in the preparation of discussion materials, track action items and track environmental reviews related to NEPA and/or permitting.
- Participate in biweekly Office of Aquaculture staff meetings and similar meetings, and represent the Regional Aquaculture Coordinator as needed.
- Assist in review of other aquaculture-related NEPA documents beyond the AOA PEIS, and provide comments as needed.
- Assist in review of other proposed aquaculture activities and provide comments.
- Participate in meetings with action agencies, applicants or permittees, special interest groups, state officials, and tribal representatives, as necessary.
- Coordinate with science center and other researchers regarding aquaculture activities in Southern California.
- Respond to aquaculture-related inquiries from action agencies, applicants, and their representatives and staff from WCR Area Offices.
Requirements
The NEPA/ESA Aquaculture Specialist must have experience in the following:
- Knowledge of the Endangered Species Act, Marine Mammal Protection Act, Magnuson Stevens Act, and National Environmental Policy Act.
- General understanding of the consultation process under section 7 of the ESA and the EFH provisions of the MSA.
- General understanding of NEPA in order to review and comment on NEPA analyses in accordance with the requirements of NEPA.
- Knowledge of marine natural resource management issues especially marine aquaculture and other ocean uses such as fishing and offshore energy is strongly desired.
- Knowledge of the marine aquaculture industry and associated species for culture, gear types, biology of West Coast marine species of whales, sea turtles, abalone, sharks, and sturgeon.
The NEPA/ESA Aquaculture Specialist must possess and maintain the following skills/certifications and/or credentials:
- Completed undergraduate degree from an accredited college or university with emphasis on biological science, conservation biology, wildlife management or related fields.
- Computer skills including basic word processing, spreadsheet creation and manipulation.
- Valid driver’s license required for operation of government vehicles.
- Current MS Office and corresponding Google applications skills.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Location: Fully remote
About Lynker
Lynker Technologies, LLC is a growing, Hub-zone certified small business specializing in professional, scientific and technical services. Our continually expanding team combines scientific expertise with mature, results-driven processes and tools to achieve technically sound, cost effective solutions in hydrology/water sciences, geospatial analysis, information technology, resource management, conservation, and management and business process improvement.
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