Fisheries Technician II-III
Prince William Sound Aquaculture Corporation (PWSAC) is a private, non-profit hatchery association founded in 1974 by a local commercial fishermen’s organization to optimize Alaska’s wild salmon resources. PWSAC produces hatchery-born, ocean-raised wild salmon for the commercial, sport, personal use, and subsistence fisheries in the Prince William Sound and Copper River regions.
The Fisheries Technician is a temporary position located at remote, off-grid hatcheries in the Prince William Sound of Alaska and a semi-remote facility near Paxon, Alaska. PWSAC produces chum, sockeye, pink, and coho salmon. PWSAC is looking for enthusiastic individuals that will unite with PWSAC's mission of sustainable fisheries contributing to the culture and economy of the region.
Jumpstart your fisheries career and gain hands-on experience working with Pacific Salmon at large scale hatcheries in Alaska
Projects are available March - November with varying project lengths of 6 weeks up to 10 months
PERKS PROVIDED
- Free Room and Board
- Heavy Duty Jacket and Bibs
- $500 Travel Reimbursement
- Option to enroll in 403(b) Plan
Job Title: Fisheries Technician II-III
Location: Remote, off-grid salmon hatchery
Employee Type: Full-time, Temporary/Seasonal
Contact Information
Human Resources
Call or Text: 907-230-9842
Email: jobs@pwsac.com
Basic Function: Fish Technicians function as part of the hatchery operations team in the cultivating and rearing of fish. Under the direct supervision of a fish culturist or designated fish technician perform routine entry-level and up to semi-skilled level work, participating in various phases of hatchery operations.
Essential Functions: Work performed at any hatchery or remote location as needed. Must be able to move about freely; work outdoors in all weather conditions; ability to lift and carry 50 pounds for an extended period of time; ability to climb stairs and ladders; ability to climb aboard and about vessels and small aircraft; work in and around water – on docks and floats, raceways, and ponds; use telephones and computers unimpaired. Must be able to read, write, speak and understand the English language. Must be able to hear and see to receive verbal and written instructions.
Description of duties and tasks:
- Eggtake: Enumerating, caring, killing, spawning and disposing of carcasses; preparing, cleaning and maintaining incubators; monitoring and maintaining water quality; loading, enumerating, picking and caring for egg/alevin;
- Outmigration/rearing: Enumerating and setting up outmigration of fry; feeding, sampling, raceway/net cleaning, health monitoring, releasing fry, incubation cleaning and rebuilding
- Harvest: Preparing, repairing and maintaining harvest equipment; loading, transporting, caring for and unloading harvest pens; collecting and recording fish harvest management data.
- Perform other general duties associated with fish culture operations.
- Site cleanup, general maintenance and repairs, groundskeeping, and snow removal.
- Operates skiffs and small boats, live trap nets, ATVs, pickups, bobcats, loaders, power tools, firearms or other equipment.
- Takes samples from commercial fisheries catches for data on species, size, age, and
Positions Supervised: None
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Ability to perform physically demanding work in inclement weather and other uncomfortable environmental conditions.
- Ability to follow verbal and written instructions and visual cues.
- Ability to learn the safe operation of small boats, power tools, firearms, and other hatchery equipment.
- Ability to collect data, maintain simple, accurate records, perform simple arithmetic computations and routine data entry.
- Ability to work cooperatively in a group.
- Ability to work carefully and safely around wild animals.
FISH TECH II
- Hired for general hatchery operations and labor with increased responsibility
- 6 months of in-season experience with hatchery operations OR Associate/Bachelor in a relevant field of study
- Fundamental knowledge of fish culture procedures
- Ability to work with little supervision
- Demonstrated minor leadership qualities
- Previously rated satisfactory or above in performance evaluations
FISH TECH III
- May act as a lead in hatchery operations and labor tasks with increased responsibility
- Can work effectively without supervision
- Demonstrated leadership qualities
- Previously rated satisfactory or above in performance evaluations
- Has substantial, greater than 12 months, aquaculture/fisheries experience in related areas
- Demonstrates a strong interest in aquaculture as a career goal
Minimum qualifications:
- Bachelors in Fisheries, Wildlife, Conservation, or Marine Science relevant field
- Must have a current driver’s license