Fish Hatchery Technician

FISHBIO; Sitka (AK); On-site; USD 25,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Housing provided

Job summary

Northern Southeast Regional Aquaculture Association (NSRAA) operates hatcheries in Southeast Alaska and supports various salmon rearing programs. The position involves assisting with routine fish culture tasks, data collection, and site maintenance in a remote Sitka setting.

Ideal candidates have background in fisheries biology or aquaculture, are physically fit for demanding work, and can live at a remote location during the assignment.

Qualifications

• Experience or education in fisheries biology, aquaculture, wildlife management, and animal husbandry preferred.
• Physically fit for demanding hatchery work (carry up to 50 lbs) and remote-location living.
• Ability to live at a remote Sitka, AK location for the assignment.

Responsibilities

• Assist hatchery staff with routine fish culture and husbandry, including feeding, egg-takes, spawning, incubation, and cleaning of raceways and incubators.
• Support data collection, environmental monitoring, fish health checks, and small-boat operations; maintain facilities and grounds.

Skills

Fisheries biology

Aquaculture

Wildlife management

Animal husbandry

Job description

Description

"Northern Southeast Regional Aquaculture Association (NSRAA)" is a private non-profit regional aquaculture association headquartered in Sitka, AK and operates four ocean-ranching Pacific salmon hatcheries in Southeast Alaska, raising Chinook coho, and chum salmon. Additionally, NSRAA operates a 9-month remote coho lake rearing program and has a collaborative on-site presence at a NOAA salmon research hatchery on southern Baranof Island (same island as Sitka). To support these hatcheries and programs, NSRAA also has a Research and Evaluation (R&E) department of biologists and newly remodeled otolith/fish pathology lab. Additional opportunities to assist other NSRAA hatcheries and the R&E department with research projects such as chum and pink salmon spawner surveys, juvenile Chinook and coho coded-wire tagging, and other activities can be expected throughout the year. NSRAA’s mission is to provide additional fishing opportunities for all user groups in Southeast Alaska, including commercial, sport and subsistence fishers. Nestled in the heart of the Tongass National Forest, this job offers a rewarding and unique maritime lifestyle with abundant outdoor recreation and learning opportunities, new life skills, and seafood harvest opportunity that is second to none.

Responsibilities

Assist full-time hatchery staff with routine fish culture and husbandry duties, including but not limited to: feeding and care of juvenile Pacific salmon fry, egg-takes and spawning adult salmon, incubation of fertilized eggs, rearing net washing/mending, and cleaning fish raceways, ponds and egg incubators. Staff will also assist with accurate data collection and recordkeeping, environmental monitoring for plankton abundance and water quality, fish health monitoring, small boat (<16’) operation, and general site/facility maintenance such as pressure washing and groundskeeping. Communal housing in a “bunkhouse” setting is available at no cost. Successful candidates will provide their own transportation to Alaska (Sitka or Juneau) at the beginning and end of the hiring period. Fish Hatchery Technicians will also assist with operating several seasonal satellite fish release locations (acclimation sites) from February through late May under the supervision of the Hatchery Manager or Project Leader. This entails living and working a rotational schedule on a modern floating “barge” consisting of a small three-bedroom apartment with bathroom and fish feed warehouse adjacent to a complex of fish netpens. Upon fish releases in late May, staff will return to their primary hatchery duty station to assist with spawning adult fish and care of other species in culture such as Chinook and coho fingerlings.

Qualifications

Education and/or experience in fisheries biology, aquaculture, wildlife management, and animal husbandry is preferred. Sound physical fitness is necessary due to the physical nature of hatchery work (i.e., ability to carry 50 lbs for distances of up to 100 yards). Candidates must be able to live at a remote location (either seasonally or full time dependent upon primary hatchery duty station assignment) with modern conveniences and interact positively with co-workers, members of the public, and scientific collaborators.