Fisheries Technician 1- Ocean Salmon Lab

PSMFC; Santa Rosa (CA); On-site; USD 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission in Santa Rosa, CA, seeks a Fisheries Technician I to support the Ocean Salmon Project with lab-based ageing of Chinook scale samples and field data collection. You work under a CDFW scientist and a PSMFC biologist, performing precise ageing, data entry, and occasional field duties.

Responsibilities include processing scale samples, reading scales across four runs, handling coded wire tags, and contributing to data submissions, with a start date of

Qualifications

• Experience in biological sciences or related field; typical path includes coursework in science.
• Ability to conduct lab ageing of fish scales and related samples with accuracy.
• Proficiency with data entry, record keeping, and basic analyses.

Responsibilities

• Process Chinook Salmon scale samples and age scales from four runs.
• Read scales to determine fish age and record results.
• Retrieve and read coded wire tags in a lab environment.
• Enter data, perform quality checks, and report to supervisor.
• Assist with sampling, data collection, and field data collection protocols.
• Support other project tasks including data management and equipment care.

Skills

Lab techniques

Field data collection

Biology knowledge

Data entry

Reading scales

Coded wire tag handling

Public interaction

Safety compliance

Education

Bachelor's degree in biology or related field

Experience in laboratory ageing techniques

Tools

GIS

Spreadsheet

Database

Word processing

Job description

#26-1186

Santa Rosa, California, United States

Job Description

Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission is recruiting candidates to fill the role of a Fisheries Technician 1 to work on OSP's Scale Age Project in partnership with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife's (CDFW) Ocean Salmon Project (OSP). This is a full-time, benefits-eligible position with an anticipated start date of December 1st, 2026.

The goal of the Scale Age Project is to provide age-specific data for Central Valley Chinook Salmon, which will be used in future modeling for fisheries management. Fisheries Technicians will work under the direction of a CDFW Environmental Scientist and PSMFC Fishery Biologist to process and age scale samples received from Central Valley carcass surveys and hatcheries. Staff are trained, extensively, in ageing all four run types of Central Valley Chinook Salmon. In addition to processing and ageing scale samples, staff may be called to assist with other project goals such as data entry, reading coded-wire tags, processing salmon heads received from sampling efforts, sampling charter and commercial vessels in California's ocean salmon fishery, and other duties as they arise. Much of the work for this position is lab based.

Duties Include

• Process Chinook Salmon scale samples received from Central Valley hatcheries and carcass surveys. This includes; cleaning, mounting, and digitally imaging scales.
• Read scales from all four runs of Central Valley Chinook Salmon to determine fish age.
• Retrieve and read coded wire tags in a laboratory environment.
• Perform data entry, reviews, edits, validation and submit data to supervisor in a timely manner.
• Collects, transports, or processes salmon snouts and/or heads in addition to biological samples such as scales and tissue samples.
• Collects commercial fishery data and biological samples at commercial offloading or processing locations using standardized surveying protocols. Collects recreational fishery data and biological samples at public launch ramps and/or docks using standardized surveying protocols. Duties include identification of Pacific salmon to species, collecting fish lengths and biological data, interviewing anglers and commercial trollers, and performing frequent reconnaissance via visual observation, phone call or personal contact to determine fishing effort levels. Sampling occurs weekdays, weekends, and holidays and may take place early in the morning or late in the evening.
• Records field data; summarizes, reviews, edits and submits data, by mail and electronically, to field supervisor in a timely manner.
• Interacts with and responds to public questions about fishing regulations, fish identification, and other topics while in the field using material provided by the Department.
• Assists with other project functions as needed, including database management, data analyses, and equipment maintenance.
• May assist other projects as needed, including collection of other fishery-dependent data.

Essential Functions

• Participate in survey crews that conduct regional fishery presence/absence research, recreational/commercial fishing surveys, or tag detection and mark recovery surveys.Make standardized observations such as species identification, length, weight, behavior, growth, reproductive condition, and/or signs of parasites, diseases or pathogens, fin clips or tags.
• Collect and organize biological and habitat samples and collections (such as scales, otoliths, ageing structures, other tissues, water quality, etc.).
• Summarize and input biological or habitat data on field forms, electronic data loggers, and/or desktop computers. May assist with preliminary data summaries and analyses, technical report writing, or database management.
• Perform precision ageing of various fish species in a laboratory setting. Record age and growth data in the appropriate format.

Knowledge Required by the Position

At the lower end of the range, employees use knowledge of basic arithmetic, reading, writing, and data collection to perform routine or repetitive tasks.

At the upper end of the position range, employees use knowledge of the basic principles and protocols of fish biology to make readings, measurements, and observations; execute tests; collect samples, etc. If complex equipment systems are operated, the employee has the knowledge to perform calibrations or adjustments to achieve desired results.

Additional Mandatory Skills

• electronic detection technol.
• lift 40 - 50 lbs.
• valid driver's license
• CPR/ First Aid
• literature search/ review
• fish ageing (scale, otolith, other)
• compile and collect neat and accurate data
• specific software skills (spreadsheet, word processing, database, GIS, statistical)

Physical Demands

Demands can range from sedentary to moderate --where there is walking, climbing stairs and ladders, reaching, lifting, bending, and strenuous sweeping.

Amajority of the work is performed in an office/ labsetting with adequate lighting, heating and ventilation.

Qualifications

A range of experience and education may be presented. At the lower end of the range, candidates must present six months of General Experience* OR one year of education above the high school level that included at least six semester hours in any combination of scientific or technical courses. An equivalent combination of experience and education is also qualifying.

At the upper end of the range, candidates must present one year of Specialized Experience** OR a 4-year course of study above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with a major or at least 24 semester hours of coursework in any combination of scientific or technical courses. An equivalent combination of experience and education is also qualifying.

*General Experience is (1) any type of work that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work of the position or (2) experience that provided a familiarity with biological sciences or the processes of the biological sciences.

**Specialized Experience is experience that equips the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position and is typically in or related to