In addition to fieldwork, these positions support shellfish management through data entry and summary reporting for agency biologists and managers. The data collected helps guide resource conservation efforts, ensures compliance with state and federal mandates, and supports the equitable allocation of shellfish stocks between the state and treaty tribes.
What to Expect
Among the varied range of responsibilities held within these roles, the Crustacean Fishery Samplers will,
Fisheries Sampling (90% Crustacean, 10% Intertidal) and Data Collection:
- Interview recreational fishery participants at assigned access points.
- Implement interview procedures and sampling protocols, and accurately record data on appropriate electronic or paper forms.
- Collect data designed to evaluate recreational harvest, including counting, measuring, and weighing harvested shrimp, crab, bivalves, squid, and seaweed.
- Collect catch record card (CRC) recording compliance data for the Puget Sound recreational Dungeness crab fishery.
- Interact with the public, including conducting outreach and education through fisher interviews focused on explanation of current harvest regulations, shellfish species biology, and Puget Sound resource management.
- Conduct harvester effort sampling to quantify daily shellfish harvester intensity through ingress/egress surveys and performing effort surveys for recreational shrimp and bivalve fisheries from boats or ground and entering data into mobile device applications.
- Serve as a liaison to the regional supervisor on observed fishery violations.
Data Entry, Review and Summary:
- Upload and maintain accurate and complete datasets.
- Conduct error checks of sampling data.
- Enter and upload recreational shellfish catch information gathered through recreational fisher interviews.
- Entering data from crustacean and intertidal stock assessment surveys—which may include samples processed in the field and samples processed in a wet lab setting.
- Process lab and field samples from crustacean and bivalve test fisheries and biological studies, assuring samples are processed accurately and sampling protocols are maintained.
Support Shellfish Program Stock Assessment and Biological Data Collection:
- Participate in the biological sampling of adult, juvenile and larval crab throughout Puget Sound using defined protocols.
- Participate in intertidal stock assessments, including participating in clam, and oyster surveys.
- Occasionally process bivalve and crustacean biological samples in the lab. Data collected includes length, weight, sex, shell condition, egg status and species.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Required Qualifications:
- Graduation from high school or GED, including one (1) year of high school science AND two (2) years of experience as a Scientific Technician 1.
OR
- Graduation from high school or GED, including one (1) year of high school science AND two (2) years of laboratory or field experience as an assistant to a biologist, chemist, or zoologist.
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 (6) semester or nine (9) quarter hours of natural science classes.
- Professional and volunteer experience involving biology, zoology, fisheries, chemistry, natural resources, engineering, or closely allied fields may substitute, year for year, for experience.
Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment:
- Successful completion of agency training and/or certification for assigned watercraft is dependent on supervisory direction, position need and training availability.
- Obtain First Aid/CPR certification, with completion within six (6) months of hire.
Preferred Qualifications:
In addition to the required qualifications, our ideal applicant will possess some or all the following:
- 6 months of professional fieldwork experience.
- 6 months of professional biological data collection experience.
- Experience interacting with members of the public/customer service.
- Experience conducting creel surveys and sampling fisheries.
- Knowledge of locally occurring crustacean species.
- Knowledge of recreational crabbing and shrimping methods and gear.
- Familiarity with current recreational crustacean harvest regulations in Puget Sound.
- Familiarity with the geography of Puget Sound and Hood Canal region.
- Biological data collection using electronic scales and scientific calipers.
- Science topics education and outreach experience.
- Experience using electronic data collection tools.
- Experience working with specialized data collection forms and mobile device apps.
- Experience in confidentiality rules, regulations, and restrictions.
- Experience using GPS in a field setting.
Location: Snohomish County – Other, WA
Application deadline: April 27, 2025
Salary: $3,477.00 – $4,632.00 Monthly
