Crab Observer Employment

Crab observers gather biological data onboard commercial fishing boats operating off the scenic coast of Alaska. 

While onboard vessels, observers identify crab, scallop, and fish species, collect and record data on sex, lengths, document the location, amount of each species caught, and maintain records of regulation compliance monitoring.  This information is used by the Alaska Department of Fish & Game (ADF&G) to manage the commercial fisheries in the Bering Sea.

Working conditions onboard fishing boats vary widely, but are almost always strenuous.  The boats range in size from 80-foot catcher vessels to 300-foot processing factories with trips lasting from 5 to 30 days at sea.  Observers often work out on an open deck, and may spend hours at a time in cold or wet weather.  Biologists must be flexible and resourceful in establishing a “sampling station” and sampling methods.  Sampling and paperwork require observers to work long and odd hours, seven days a week.  Observers determine their own workday depending on the vessel’s fishing schedule, but often work 5 to 15 hours a day, and rarely sleep uninterrupted for eight hours.  Sampling may require lifting heavy baskets of shellfish (up to 50 pounds) throughout the day.

Alaska Crab Observer sampling in vessel hold

Observer sampling crab in vessel hold                       

Adapting to life onboard a boat requires certain flexibility and an ability to get along with different types of people.  Accommodations onboard range from spartan to almost plush, but quarters are typically confined, and observers usually share a cabin with one to six crewmembers. Both men and women share toilet facilities. Vessels are rarely a smoke free environment.

Alaska Crab vessel at dock

Crab Vessel at a dock

Alaska waters are known for being rough, and seasickness is a possibility.  We recommend that observers be prepared with seasick medicine, either over-the-counter or prescription medications prior to their deployment.  Furthermore we suggest you leave port with at least two different medications.

Because the objectives of the observer and the crew are different, shipboard life can be stressful. The most important trait we look for in an observer is maturity, which includes adaptability, common sense, tolerance, patience, the ability to listen and understand people with different viewpoints, and thinking before acting.  A flexible attitude and ability to adjust to whatever comes is very important to be able to “rough it” and adapt to the established routine onboard a fishing vessel.  Successful observers are tactful, self confident, and good communicators.

Observers will be deployed out of ports along the Bering Sea.  Most of the work is based in Dutch Harbor, St. Paul, King Cove, and Adak.

Alaska Crab Observer holding crab

 Observer Holding Crab


Crab Observer Duties:

Crab Observer Training:

Crab training classes are two and half weeks long, Monday through Friday, and are offered by the Observer Training Center (OTC) in Anchorage, Alaska.  Class is scheduled for September 18 to October 3, 2008.

The training must be passed with a final score of 90% or better.

Resume and transcripts for observer candidates must be submitted to ADF&G 30 days prior to the beginning of training for applicant approval, which means Saltwater needs them even earlier.  Act now.  Please see how do I apply.

Crab Observer Requirements:

Crab Observer Preferred Experience (please list this experience on your resume):

Are you interested in what current as past berserker has said about being a crab observer? Please check out the crab observer letters page, click letters.