Observer Positions

Frank Orth & Associates (FOA) is accepting applications for qualified Fishery Observers to participate in the West Coast Highly Migratory Species & California Coastal Species Fisheries Observer Program. FOA is under contract with the National Marine Fisheries Service Southwest Region (NMFS) to provide biologists serving as observers on board commercial fishing vessels participating in drift gillnet, set gillnet, pelagic longline and other fisheries off the California, Oregon, and Washington coasts.

We will hire 5-10 observers for this program. The positions require up to a seven-month commitment, starting in September, to serve as observers aboard vessels targeting Swordfish and sharks, halibut, seabass and tuna. The position requires working and living aboard commercial fishing vessels 40-100 feet in length for 6-30 days at a time and travel to a variety of ports in California, Oregon, and Washington. These positions are highly competitive and we often have many prior observers return to the program for multiple seasons.

Sampling duties include: identification and sampling of marine mammals, sea turtles and sea birds, identification and tallying of all catch, measurements of various species, specimen collections from the catch, and maintaining marine mammal and protected species sighting records. All new hires will go through a two week training class administered by NMFS in Long Beach, CA.

Minimum Qualifications:
Candidates must be a natural U.S. Citizen or a non-U.S. Citizen with at least 5 years of continuous residency in the U.S. Bachelor degree in biology, wildlife, fisheries or other related field with at least 30 semester hours of scientific or technical courses such as biology, chemistry, statistics, ichthyology, animal husbandry, physics, or mathematics of which at least 6 semester hours are in marine science or fisheries. Preference will be given to those with ocean experience aboard small boats, collection of scientific data after college, or previous experience as a marine mammal or fisheries observer. Ideal candidates meet these minimum requirements and are flexible and easy to get along with.