Fishery Biologist 1 (Lead Dockside Sampler)

Holland America-Princess (Holland America Dawson City Inn); Dutch Harbor (AK); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Shared housing

Job summary

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Commercial Fisheries, is hiring a Fishery Biologist 1 for Dutch Harbor, Alaska. You will lead dockside sampling of shellfish, collect data on catch size, weight, and species, interview vessel operators, and manage data entry into the regional database.

You may also sample groundfish deliveries and assist biologists with fisheries management tasks. The role requires flexibility to travel to remote ports and to work non-standard hours during the

Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree in biology, a branch of biology, limnology, biometrics, oceanography, forestry, fisheries science, or natural resource management.
• Experience with field data collection, data entry, and data QA/QC is preferred.
• Ability to operate computers and databases for data entry and daily tasks.
• Comfort working both in an office setting and in remote locations without direct supervision.
• Flexibility to work nights and weekends; overtime may be required.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the lead dockside sampler for commercial shellfish fisheries in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands.
• Collect size frequency, average weight, and species composition data from landings across multiple ports.
• Interview vessel operators to gather catch-effort information.
• Enter and edit large datasets in the regional database.
• Train new dockside samplers and update sampling manuals.
• Assist with sampling of groundfish deliveries and other management tasks as needed.

Skills

Fisheries fieldwork

Data collection

Data entry

QA/QC

Computer skills

Team collaboration

Flexible schedule

Night/weekend work

Education

Bachelor's degree in biology or related field

Tools

Database software

GIS

MS Office / Excel

Job description

Job Description

Effective July 1, 2026 the wage for this position increased by 3%. The wage listed in this job posting reflects the increase.

This position is open to Alaska Residents only.

Location

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Commercial Fisheries is recruiting for a Fishery Biologist 1 located in Dutch Harbor, Alaska!

What you will be doing:

This position serves as the lead dockside sampler for commercial shellfish fisheries in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands. Primary duties include collecting size frequency, average weight, and species composition data from commercial shellfish landings in several ports in the region, interviewing vessel operators to obtain catch-effort information, entering and editing large amounts of fishery data into the regional database, training new dockside samplers, and updating sampling manuals. Additionally, this position may also sample commercial groundfish deliveries and assist management biologists with various fisheries management tasks.

Our mission, values, and culture:

The Division of Commercial Fisheries strives for a diverse and inclusive workforce where safety and well-being are paramount and employees at all levels promote a culture where everyone is valued, treated equitably, and treated respectfully.

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s mission is to protect, maintain, and improve the fish, game, and aquatic plant resources of the state, and manage their use and development in the best interest of the economy and the well‑being of the people of the state. The mission of the Division of Commercial Fisheries is to manage subsistence, commercial, and personal use fisheries in the interest of the economy and general well‑being of the people of the state, consistent with the sustained yield principle, and subject to allocations through public regulatory processes. The Dockside Sampling Program plays an important role in the management of the crab fisheries. This position supports data collection activities critical to informing crab fishery management decisions.

The benefits of joining our team:

This position provides the opportunity to work both indoors and outdoors and is supported by a close‑knit team of administrative staff, technicians, and fishery biologists. Shared housing is available in Dutch Harbor during the season at no cost to the employee with the ADF&G office, local amenities, and several hiking trails all within walking distance.

The working environment you can expect:

The position primarily works out of the Dutch Harbor ADF&G office in a professional setting that is open to the public, with frequent trips to local seafood processing facilities to sample commercial shellfish/groundfish deliveries. This position may also be required to travel to the remote ports of Akutan, King Cove, and Saint Paul Island for several weeks at a time to sample deliveries during the fishing season. This is a full‑time permanent seasonal 8-month position.

Who we are looking for:

We are interested in candidates who possess some or all of the following position specific competencies:

• Familiarity and experience working with fisheries.
• Experience working in the field, collecting data, data entry, and data QA/QC.
• Experience using computers, software applications, and databases for data entry and to accomplish daily work.
• Ability to work effectively both as part of a team in an office setting, and in a remote location without direct supervision.
• Ability to independently work a flexible schedule which includes working nights and weekends, which may require overtime.

Special Note:

A valid driver’s license is required.

First Aid/CPR certification. Training provided by the department at no cost to the employee.

Minimum Qualifications

A bachelor's degree from an accredited college in biology, a branch of biology, limnology, biometrics, oceanography, forestry, fisheries science, or natural resource management.

Substitution:

A bachelor's degree from an accredited college that includes or is supplemented by the following credit hours will substitute for the degree in a specific field:

• at least 24 semester hours (36 quarter hours) in biology, a branch of biology, limnology, biometrics, oceanography, forestry, aquaculture, aquatic ecology, fisheries resources, or natural resource management (excluding courses that focus on agricultural husbandry techniques, human population dynamics, or the design and manipulation of landscapes), of which 16 semester hours (24 quarter hours) are upper division courses; and
• at least 12 semester hours (16 quarter hours) in any combination of two or more of the following: chemistry, physics, mathematics, statistics, geology, hydrology, or GIS.

Special Note:

"Upper division courses" means courses that are specialized, in depth and advanced. Such courses emphasize problem-solving, analytical thinking skills, and theoretical applications, with depth and rigor in a discipline's theories and methods; specialization in a particular field or profession; refinement of general education; and/or development of specific intellectual and professional skills. Upper division courses are commonly identified in college catalogs as 300 level and higher.

Some positions may require training in specialized areas such as hydroacoustics, microscopic analysis, underwater research, or fish habitat restoration or enhancement.

An individual who will complete the educational requirements and obtain the required bachelor's degree within six months may apply and be considered for a vacancy. Such applicants may be given a conditional job offer but may not be appointed until receipt of the required degree has been documented.

FIREARMS

This position requires the use or possession of a firearm or ammunition. In accordance with the federal Omnibus Consolidated Appropriations Act of 1997 (PL 104-208), if you have been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, you may not hold this position.

"misdemeanor crime of domestic violence" is an offense that is (1) a misdemeanor under Federal or state law; and (2) has, as an element, the use or attempted use of physical force, or the threatened use of a deadly weapon, committed by a current or former spouse, parent, or guardian of the victim, by a person with whom the victim shares a child in common, by a person who is cohabiting with or has cohabited with the victim as a spouse, parent, or guardian, or by a person similarly situated to a spouse, parent, or guardian of the victim.

If you have ever been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, do NOT apply for this position.