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Fisheries Technician 2- Harvest Monitoring Project
Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission
Lewiston, ID, USA
Posted on Dec 2, 2025
Position/Project Specifics:
Successful candidate will be part of the Harvest Monitoring Project within Idaho's largest anadromous fisheries for steelhead, Coho and Chinook salmon. Work is based out of Lewiston, Idaho to monitor fisheries occurring in the Clearwater River, lower Salmon River, and the Snake River drainages. Work will be a combination of field and office work.
Primary field work is technician oversight, conducting angler interviews, and sampling harvest. Additional responsibilities include, but are not limited to: assisting in scheduling monitoring efforts and equipment for up to a 15-person crew, training technicians on data collection, equipment maintenance, and assisting other projects as assigned. Office work will generally be writing summary reports, producing professional quality figures and maps, assisting in annual report writing/editing, and quality control of fisheries data.
Previous work experience in fisheries, field supervision, data entry/analysis, and report writing is required. Candidate must be comfortable traversing steep rocky stream banks carrying a variety of field equipment, frequently in inclement weather. Candidate must possess excellent attention to detail, organizational skills, and communication skills. Incumbent will work randomized daylight shifts often including weekends with occasional overnight stays for field work (camping, RV) and business meetings (hotels). Applicant must be comfortable driving independently for long distances. A bachelor's degree in natural resources is preferred but not required.
Essential Functions:
- Lead and participate in survey crews that conduct fishery presence/absence research, recreational/commercial fishing surveys, anadromous fish escapement surveys (carcass, redd, trap/weir, snorkel, etc.), or tag detection and mark recovery surveys. Make standardized observations such as species identification, length, weight, behavior, growth, survival, reproductive condition, and/or signs of parasites, diseases or pathogens, fin clips or tags.
- Lead and perform data entry for data from recovered tags, representative biological samples, telemetry devices, oceanographic data, fish tickets, commercial landing estimates, logbooks, scale cards, port sampling, onboard observers, etc. Error check the data, maintain and update the database, and analyze and organize data in the appropriate format (table, spreadsheet, memorandum, or report) necessary for transfer to individuals, agencies, and organizations. Modify software programs and perform data queries. Prepare summary reports to transfer data.
- Lead crew in watershed and stream assessments and habitat surveys. This may include stream habitat inventories (channel typing, habitat typing, woody debris, etc.), road inventories, and riparian inventories.
- Develop and install components of naturalistic environments. Assist with analysis of the behavior of different species (plants and animals) in simulated environments. Videotape, photograph, and record data for characteristics such as growth, health, fitness, social activity, reproductive success, foraging success, and anti-predator behavior.
- Update the database by entering, checking, and/or editing biological or habitat data that has been inputted on field forms, electronic data loggers, and/or desktop computers. Maintain organize and provide access to databases. Write memoranda and short reports for the transfer of data. Produce summaries including corrections. Produce presentation quality tables and graphs of data.
Knowledge Required by the Position:
- Knowledge of fishery biology (including knowledge of particular species of fish).
- Knowledge of fish husbandry.
- Knowledge of aquatic habitats.
- Knowledge of the scientific method.
- Knowledge of sampling protocols.
- Knowledge of personal computer applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, e-mail, publishing software, presentation software, database software, topographic software, bibliographic software, and statistical analysis packages.
- Knowledge of technical writing protocols.
- Knowledge of basic math.
Employees have the knowledge to resolve common technical or procedural problems for themselves or their work crew. They are able to assess or interpret the significance of their results and relate that to the overall objective of the project. They have the knowledge to outline, organize and execute the details of projects where unusual or irregular procedural or technical problems arise.
Additional Mandatory Skills:
- carcass and redd surveys
- Habitat monitoring/ typing
- Restoration project monitoring
- Underwater video camera/ Snorkeling
- Electronic detection technology
- Fish tagging
- Lift 40-50 lbs.
- Valid driver's license
- Operate GPS
- Fish species ID skills
- Using fish keys
- Compile and collect neat and accurate data
- Operate handheld data recorder
- Specific software skills (spreadsheet, word processing, database, GIS, statistical)
- Literature search/ review
- Construction, fabrication and installation skills
- Repair & maintain equipment
Physical Demands:
Demands can range from sedentary, to moderate --where there is walking, climbing stairs and ladders, reaching, lifting, and bending, to rigorous. In the latter case, the employee must be able to handle buckets of water or gear weighing up to 50 pounds. Long daily periods of hiking, carrying equipment, swimming, and/or standing may be required. Camping for extended periods may be required. Some work requires the ability to maintain footing in fast-moving water.
Work Environment:
Some work is performed in an office setting with adequate lighting, heating and ventilation. Some work may be performed in fish processing labs, fish holding areas, and/or in the field. Employees may work on narrow, elevated walkways and platforms that are over or adjacent to water. Field work involves exposure to all types of weather, slippery rocks or docks, trails, irregular terrain, insects, poison oak, rough or fast-moving water, or cold water temperatures. Work at high elevations or aboard boats may be required.