Fisheries Technician (Off-grid Salmon Hatchery) - Multiple Locations

Prince William Sound Aquaculture Corporation; Anchorage (AK); On-site; USD 19,000 - 23,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Free room and board at hatchery sites

403(b) Retirement Plan - enrollment is

Industrial/Heavy Duty rain jacket and

Job summary

Prince William Sound Aquaculture Corporation (PWSAC) seeks Fisheries Technicians for off-grid hatcheries across Alaska. The role covers Tier I–III duties, from eggtake assistance to supervised culture tasks, at remote facilities with long field shifts.

Residency at hatchery sites is required, with physical tasks and safety-focused work in rugged environments. Temporary, non-benefit positions with room and board provided are available.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required for Tier I.
• Six months Tier I experience at a PWSAC hatchery preferred.
• Associates or Bachelor's in aquaculture, fisheries, marine biology may substitute experience.

Responsibilities

• Assist eggtake procedures and incubator work.
• Operate boats and field equipment for hatchery activities.
• Maintain records and logs for harvest data.
• Work across Tier I-III duties with increasing responsibility.

Skills

Boat operation

Data entry

Communication

Teamwork

Physical stamina

Safety awareness

Adaptability

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Associates or Bachelor's in aquaculture, fisheries, marine biology or related field

Tools

Small boats (skiffs)

ATVs

Snowmobiles

Hand tools

Power tools

Job description

• Location Offgrid Salmon Hatchery,Anchorage, AK, 99574,United States
• Base Pay $14.00 - $17.00 / Hour
• Other Compensation Free Room and Board
• Employee Type Temporary Non-Benefit

• Name Amber Phillips
• Phone [phone]
• Email [e-mail]

Jumpstart your fisheries career and gain hands-on experience working with Pacific Salmon at large-scale hatcheries in Alaska. Late winter and early spring projects (February to May) will focus on outmigration and juvenile salmon rearing. Project lengths focused on juvenile fish rearing typically range from six to ten weeks, with limited projects ranging up to six to nine months.

PERKS

• Free room and board at hatchery locations
  • Dormitory setting with shared room occupancy
  • Sorry, no pets allowed
  • Meal service provided
• 403(b) Retirement Plan -enrollment is optional
• Industrial/Heavy Duty rain jacket and bibs provided
• $500 Travel Reimbursement
  • Employees arrange their transportation to Anchorage, AK

Project Start Dates

Located on Evans Island at the south-western entrance of the Prince William Sound. AFK is a remote, off-grid facility only accessible by boat or float plane. Typical transport to AFK is provided via boat from Whittier, AK, and the direct route is about three hours. This facility will rear pink and chum salmon for release into the ocean as fry. Approximately 172 million pink salmon and 19.5 million chum salmon fry are released every year in May. An additional 40 million chum salmon fry are released at the remote station site in Port Chalmers every year in May. AFK collects approximately 190 million pink salmon eggs during eggtake operations in late August through late September.

• 2027 Project Start Date(s): 02/10; 02/24; 03/03; 03/10

Cannery Creek Hatchery (CCH)

Located in Unakwik Inlet at the northern end of the Prince William Sound. CCH is a remote, off-grid facility only accessible by boat or float plane. Typical transport to CCH is provided via boat from Whittier, AK, and the direct route is about two hours. This facility will rear pink salmon for release into the ocean as fry. Approximately 168 million pink salmon fry are released every year in May. CCH collects approximately 187 million pink salmon eggs during eggtake operations in late August through late September.

• 2027 Project Start Date(s): 03/02; 03/09

Located in the interior near Paxson, AK, along the Gulkana River.GH is a rural facility accessible by vehicle with a remote, off-grid release and collection site, Crosswinds, located in a backcountry/wilderness setting. Typical transport to GH is provided via vehicle from Anchorage, AK, and the direct route is about five hours. Typical transport to Crosswinds is provided via small air bushcraft. This facility will rear sockeye salmon for release into lakes and rivers as fry. Approximately 22 million sockeye salmon fry are released every year, beginning in April and ending in July. GH collects approximately 36.75 million sockeye salmon eggs during eggtake operations in late August through early October.

• 2027 Project Start Date(s): 03/12; 04/16

Main Bay Hatchery (MBH)

Located at Main Bay in the mid-west section of Prince William Sound, south of Whittier. MBH is a remote, off-grid facility only accessible by boat or float plane. Typical transport to MBH is provided via boat from Whittier, AK, and the direct route is about one and a half hours. This facility will rear sockeye salmon for release into the ocean as smolt. Approximately 10.5 million sockeye salmon smolt are released every year in May. MBH collects approximately 12.4 million sockeye salmon eggs during eggtake operations in late July through late August.

• 2027 Project Start Date(s): 02/10; 02/24; 03/31

Wally Noerenberg Hatchery (WNH)

Located on Esther Island in the Prince William Sound, east of Whittier. WNH is a remote, off-grid facility only accessible by boat or float plane. Typical transport to WNH is provided via boat from Whittier, AK, and the direct route is about one hour. This facility will rear pink, chum, and coho salmon for release into the ocean as fry and smolt. Approximately 133 million pink salmon fry and 73 million chum fry are released every year in May. About 3.5 million coho salmon and 46 thousand chinook salmon smolt are released in June. WNH collects approximately 148 million pink, 153 million chum, 4 million coho, and 50 thousand chinook salmon eggs during eggtake operations.

• 2027 Project Start Date(s): 02/09; 02/16; 03/16

POSITION SUMMARY

The Fisheries Technician is a vital member of the hatchery operations team, supporting the cultivation, propagation, harvest, spawning, and rearing of Pacific Salmon. This position requires residency at the hatchery site and on-premises attendance. The position during peak operations may require tasks for fish monitoring performed outside of the standard working schedule.

This position spans three tiers of responsibility:

Tier I (Entry-Level)

• Assist with Eggtake procedures, including enumerating, killing, spawning, and carcass disposal
• Prepare and clean incubators, raceways, troughs, pens, and tanks
• Hand-feed fry and smolt using manual hand tools
• Assist with incubation procedures, including loading, enumerating, picking, and caring for eggs
• Assist with outmigration and release of fry and/or smolt
• May assist with maintaining harvest equipment and operations, including loading, transporting, and unloading harvest sampling gear
• Record basic data using paper forms or digital devices
• Perform general site cleanup, minor repairs, groundskeeping, and snow removal
• Operate small boats (skiffs) for saltwater rearing and other equipment such as hand and power tools
• Report to work reliably and on time, and must communicate any anticipated absences or delays to their supervisor in advance whenever possible
• Adhere to all safety protocols and workplace policies relevant to this position
• Maintain professionalism and respectful conduct to support a positive and constructive workplace; behavior that undermines safety or mutual respect is not acceptable

Tier II (Intermediate)

• Perform all duties in Tier I with limited or no supervision
• Under rare circumstances may assist in biological sampling to collect scales, otoliths, and ovaries
• Under rare circumstances may assist with scale mounting and otolith reading
• Operate small boats (skiffs) and ATVs for assigned hatchery activities
• Maintain and adjust water systems under direction to ensure optimal conditions for fish health
• Use computers and software to enter and organize data
• Lead small task teams and assist with mentoring Tier I technicians

Tier III (Advanced)

• Perform all duties listed in Tier I and Tier II with limited or no supervision
• Perform independent fish culture tasks during all hatchery life stage cycles
• Act as a lead in hatchery projects and labor tasks
• Mentor Tier I and Tier II technicians
• Operate small boats (skiffs), ATVs, and snowmobiles for assigned hatchery activities
• Under rare circumstances may assist with basic laboratory tasks, identifying plankton and processing fish biological samples
• Maintain logs and forms for data collection
• Collect and record harvest sampling data
• Recommend and adapt techniques to improve efficiency and safety

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Work will be performed at hatchery facilities and remote field sites, in rural or off-grid areas
• Exposure to water and marine conditions
• Exposure to all weather conditions and outdoor environments
• Exposure to wild animals, flora, and fauna
• Exposure to firearms, heavy machinery, and equipment
• Exposure to hazardous materials commonly found in fish culture work, fish waste, and other biological materials such as fish-borne bacteria and parasites, and bloodborne pathogens
• Exposure to physical agents such as cold, heat, noise, and hand-arm vibration
• Travel by small boat (skiffs), landing craft, small aircraft, and motorized vehicles

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Must be physically capable of lifting and carrying up to 50 pounds and performing strenuous tasks in a field-based/remote setting, rugged outdoor, and marine environments in varying weather conditions
• Ability to climb stairs, ladders, and board vessels without assistance
• Ability to move freely around docks, floats, and uneven terrain
• Ability to use small boats (skiffs), hand tools, and power tools in line with manufacturer or operator standards
• Ability to recognize safety hazards/concerns and practice All-Stop safety approach
• Must be able to comprehend and communicate using the English language
• Must be able to hear and see to receive and interpret instructions
• Must be able to use telephones, computers, and other communication devices

DISCLAIMER

Duties and responsibilities described are not a comprehensive list, and additional tasks may be assigned from time to time. The scope of the job may change as necessitated by business demands.

Requirements

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Tier I

• High school diploma or equivalent

Tier II

• 6 months of Tier I experience at a PWSAC hatchery facility

Substitutions

• Associates or Bachelor's in aquaculture, fisheries, marine biology, or a closely related field may replace 6 months of Tier I experience

Tier III

• 12 months of Tier II experience at a PWSAC hatchery facility

Substitutions

• 18 months of paid semi-skilled experience equivalent to Tier II duties at a salmonid hatchery/aquaculture facility

Additional Requirements

• Tiers I/II/III
• Current and valid driver’s license preferred for some locations and projects

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to safely operate small boats, snowmobiles, hand tools, and power tools
• Ability to follow detailed instructions and maintain accurate records
• Ability to perform simple arithmetic
• Ability to perform physically demanding work over extended periods of time; includes lifting 50lb bags of fish feed
• Ability to work independently as directed and as a part of a team in remote and challenging environments
• Demonstrates resilience, adaptability, and self-sufficiency in isolated and resource-limited settings, maintaining productivity and emotional stability while living and working in extremely remote environments
• Ability to work safely in the proximity of wild animals
• Exercise sound judgment and maintain professional conduct while working in challenging environments
• Strong communication, organizational, and observational skills
• Basic computer proficiency for data entry
• Collaborate effectively and respectfully with employees, colleagues, public, vendors, contract staff, and any other stakeholders

Summary

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

PERKS

• Free room and board at hatchery locations
  • Dormitory setting with shared room occupancy
  • Sorry, no pets allowed
  • Meal service provided
• 403(b) Retirement Plan -enrollment is optional
• Industrial/Heavy Duty rain jacket and bibs provided
• $500 Travel Reimbursement
  • Employees arrange their transportation to Anchorage, AK