Integrated Statistics is looking for an individual to work directly with commercial fishermen participating in the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) - Northeast Fisheries Science Center’s (NEFSC) Study Fleet program. We need someone to provide assistance with the installation, training, and trouble shooting of an electronic logbook system and evaluate the quality and completeness of the self-reported data collected by the fishing industry.
Specific duties
1. The incumbent will organize logistical support for industry participants in the Study Fleet program; including recruitment with community leaders, conducting dock-side visits to provide program overviews and determine system constraints. Incumbent will be responsible for the electronic logbook deployment and training, trouble shooting support and data collection. The incumbents will be expected to carry a contractor-issued cell phone and be on call to provide support 24 hours a day d(within reason) during week days and rotationally on weekends.
2. The incumbent will monitor the data collected by participating Study Fleet vessels for quality and completeness, identify areas for improvement in the data collection methods and communicate the results back to the industry and Study Fleet management. The incumbent will maintain records tracking equipment or software failures and circumstances to assist in identifying solutions for recurrent problems or system limitations.
3. The incumbent will sail on participant Study Fleet vessels in order to collect independent catch records for comparison to fisherman hail estimates. Duties at sea may also include collection of biological samples, deployment of additional data collection devices and/or the testing of new equipment or protocols.
4. The incumbent will work with NEFSC Study Fleet staff and other contractors to develop outreach materials, including user manuals, troubleshooting guides, and brochures and letters to fishermen, that will keep them apprised of program accomplishments, challenges and objectives. This will include participation in industry meetings, scientific symposia, and regular visits to fishing ports.
5. The incumbent may conduct independent research to improve the efficacy of Study Fleet data with respect to improving the quality of science used in fisheries stock assessments.
Qualifications
Applicants shall have experience communicating with commercial fishermen and experience collecting fisheries data at-sea, preferably aboard commercial fishing vessels. Preference will be given to applicants with at least one year’s experience working as a certified fisheries observer or extensive experience working on cooperative research projects with the fishing industry. Additionally, applicants shall have the ability to interact with a variety of people including fishermen, technical staff, fisheries managers and other scientists often in stressful situations.
Duties will be focused on field work, meetings with fishermen, troubleshooting hardware/software issues aboard fishing vessels and maintenance of data according to Study Fleet protocols; there will be field and office components to the incumbent’s responsibilities including frequent travel to ports within the Northeast Region and trips to sea aboard participant commercial fishing vessels (~40+ days at sea per year). Applicants shall have moderate to strong computer skills and familiarity with GPS and satellite communications. Preference will be given to those applicants that have demonstrated experience installing electronic hardware/software, use of serial devices, knowledge of electronics, interaction with fishing community members, demonstrated experience in fish identification and quantification procedures, knowledge of relational databases and a background in basic statistics.
Minimum educational requirements include a Bachelors degree in biological or marine sciences that includes at least 6 semester hours in aquatic subjects such as limnology, ichthyology, fishery biology, aquatic botany, aquatic fauna, oceanography, fish culture, or related courses in the field of fishery biology; and at least 12 semester hours in the following areas: general zoology, vertebrate zoology, comparative anatomy, ecology, ecological modeling, computer science, electronics engineering or statistics. Preference will be given to applicants with advanced degrees.
Personnel shall be able to show a demonstrated ability to work independently with little supervision to accomplish program objectives. In some cases, additional training in procedures, equipment, and analytical software that is specific to program requirements will be provided by the NEFSC as tasks develop.
Applicants shall possess a driver's license and passport valid in the US. Valid driver's license required. The successful applicant shall take the online web based security and safety courses, and submit the completed certificate to the COTR.
Additional information on the NEFSC’s Study Fleet program can be found at:
http://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/read/popdy/studyfleet/
- Location: Gloucester, MA
- Compensation: $20/hour + benefits including health, dental and retirement plans, paid vacation, sick and holidays.
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