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Fisheries Technician 1 - Groundfish Catch Monitoring (Fort Bragg)
Fort Bragg, CA, USA
Posted on Aug 8, 2026
Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission is recruiting candidates to fill the role of a Fisheries Technician 1 based in Fort Bragg, California. This is a full-time, full-year position with benefits. Some travel may be required.
Fisheries Technicians perform duties related to the protection, preservation, propagation, and sampling of fish species and the preservation or enhancement of their habitat. They use knowledge of procedural requirements and processes to support the technical work of their unit. They provide practical technical support to research, operations, or program administration efforts.
Essential Functions: (The functions listed below are characteristic of the type and level of work associated with this group and pay band. They are not all-inclusive. Individual positions may perform some or all, as well as other similar work.)
- Participate in survey crews that conduct regional 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.
- Collect and organize biological and habitat samples and collections (such as scales, otoliths, aging structures, other tissues, water quality, etc.).
- Support captive fish-rearing activities including spawning, incubating, feeding, sampling, sorting, handling, medicating, anesthetizing, and transporting fish. Monitor the status of facility systems and equipment. Assist in the development, fabrication, construction, and maintenance of systems.
- Make regular facility inspections including, for example, dewatering equipment, pumps, flumes, gates, tanks, screens, filters, gatewells, and/or tag interrogation equipment. Monitor and maintain water quality levels. Record findings and adjustments made. Respond appropriately and immediately to emergencies.
- Support watershed and stream assessments by working as part of a field team that performs habitat surveys. Includes road inventories, stream habitat inventories, channel typing, habitat typing, woody debris, and riparian inventories.
- 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 aging of various fish species in a laboratory setting. Record age and growth data in the appropriate format.
- Research the land ownership of survey sites and assist in processes for gaining access approval, which may include direct landowner contact.
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/Desirable Skills:
- snorkeling
- electrofishing-boat
- electrofishing-backpack
- scuba diving
- repair nets (seine, gill, etc.)
- trap/weir
- mark fish
- perform creel census
- carcass and redd surveys
- electronic detection technol.
- able to swim
- lift 40 - 50 lbs.
- load boats on trailers
- tow & maneuver trailers
- valid driver's license
- operate motorized boats
- operate non-motorized boats
- hiking
- camping
- field cooking skills
- CPR/First Aid
- survival training
- operate GPS
- habitat typing
- habitat monitoring
- restoration proj. monitoring research land ownership
- literature search/review
- fish aging (scale, otolith, other)
- fish species ID skills
- using fish keys
- operate handheld data recorder
- compile and collect neat and accurate data
- specific software skills (spreadsheet, word processing, database, GIS, statistical)
- oral communication skills
- written communication skills
- construction, fabrication and installation skills
- repair & maintain equipment
Scope and Effect:
The employee's work affects the quality of day-to-day operations of a significant, ongoing program. Operation of equipment outside of prescribed ranges can cause serious injury or death to employee(s) and/or thousands of fish. Incorrectly collected or processed biological samples or statistical data can result in faulty assessments and unsound management decisions.
Physical Demands:
Demands can range from moderate --where there is walking, climbing stairs and ladders, reaching, lifting, bending, and strenuous sweeping-- to rigorous. In the latter case, the incumbent 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 out for extended periods may be required. Some work requires the ability to maintain footing in fast-moving water.
Work Environment:
A portion of the work is performed in an office setting with adequate lighting, heating and ventilation. The majority is performed in fish processing labs, fish holding areas, and/or in the field. Incumbents 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, 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.
PSMFC is an EEO/AAP employer. We maintain a drug-free workplace.