Saltwater Inc. is URGENTLY recruiting two Fisheries Observers who will work with the Alaska Fisheries Science Center (AFSC), Fisheries Monitoring and Analysis (FMA) Division to work on a Pilot Program this summer collect data on the effects of commercial gillnet fisheries managed by the State of Alaska on marine mammal stocks through the Alaska Marine Mammal Observer Program (AMMOP). The data will be used to produce statistically reliable estimates of bycatch to be included in annual stock assessment reports and used to determine MMPA risk levels on the List of Fisheries.
This work will be conducted in Juneau, Alaska. Juneau residents are highly encouraged to apply! The contract will begin as early as June 9 – September 29, and living accommodations will be made for qualified applicants who do not live in the area.
Tasks:
Contractors will perform sampling, data quality control checks, data submissions and equipment maintenance. The government will provide fishery observers with a 10-day training consisting of one week data collection training followed by one week of safety and water-based training. Technical training on EM systems will be provided by an outside contractor so that observers can install, uninstall, and maintain EM systems in addition to conducting fishery observer duties.
Observers will be responsible for liaison with fishers. Observers shall coordinate meet up times with fishers for EM installs at which time they will provide training on the use of EM equipment, provide fisher log sheets, and conduct an interview/questionnaire to obtain data on gear and fishing behavior. Upon return to port, observers will be responsible for uninstalling the EM equipment and conducting another interview/questionnaire and later uploading EM image data and scanning/uploading paper datasheets. The contractor shall follow all sample protocols.
Contractor shall be responsible for active fishery observation on EM outfitted vessels for 10- weeks from statistical week 25 through 35. Each observer should expect to liaison with three permit holders and deploy on one trip each week. Observer trips will be a maximum of three days and not exceed 12 hours in a 24-hour period. Each observer will therefore be on active observation duties 36 hours per week maximum. Contractors shall collect standard monitoring program data from fishery observations such as:
- Marine mammal and seabird interaction
- Specimen samples
- Fishing effort—set time, haul time, harvest
- Fishing gear
- Fishing behavior
- Environmental conditions
Contractor shall collect proper documentation to provide a means to assess EM image quality and determine the feasibility in moving EM units from vessel to vessel on a weekly basis, such as:
- Document intended hours of EM operation vs data gaps
- Document reasons for data gaps (e.g. battery power failure, lack of engine power, power cord disconnect, device failure, incomplete install, ect.)
- Document time for each EM install and uninstall and provide cost translation
- Document intended installations that are unsuccessful and why
- Document time spent coordinating with fishers
- Document length of time from install to uninstall (though we will target collecting the gear at the end of each fishery, fisher may not come in to port even after the gillnet fishery closes each week – they may go crabbing or something else so we will have to wait until they come in or retrieve if a vessel/boat operator is available; we have an extra FishVue Mobile for this occasion)
- Document fisher sentiment
- Photograph gillnet vessels observed incidental to daily activities and document names and ADF&G number to build a reference library of gillnet vessel configuration to be used for future EM install plans
