Groundfish Observer Employment

The Working Conditions

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

While onboard vessels observers identify crab, scallop, fish species, collect and record data on sex, lengths, monitor regulatory compliance, document location and amount of each species caught.  This information is used by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to manage the commercial fisheries in the Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska.

Working conditions onboard fishing boats vary widely but are almost always strenuous.  The boats range in size from 60-foot longliners to 600-foot processing factories with trips lasting 1 to 45 days at sea.  Biologists often work out on an open deck and may spend hours at a time in cold or wet weather.  Observers 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 and NMFS sampling protocols.  They often work 5 to 15 hours a day and rarely sleep uninterrupted for eight hours.  Sampling may require lifting heavy baskets of fish (up to 80 pounds) throughout
the day.

Alaska Groundfish Observer Sampling on catcher boat.      

An observer sampling onboard a catcher boat.

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 observers typically live in close quarters with one to six crewmembers. Both men and women share toilet facilities. Vessels are rarely a smoke free environment.

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.

Alaska Groundfish Observer sampling on Vessel.

Observer Sampling on Vessel

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 Gulf of Alaska and the Bering Sea.  Most of the work is based in Dutch Harbor, Kodiak, King Cove, and Akutan.

Alaska Groundfish Observer with sampling equipment

Observer with sampling equipment


Groundfishing Observer Duties:

Groundfish Observer Training:

Groundfish training classes is an intensive 3 week course, Monday through Friday and are offered by NMFS at various times throughout the year in Seattle and Anchorage.  Please see the current Training Schedule.

Transcripts for observer candidates must be submitted to NMFS before the class begins, which means Saltwater needs them even earlier.  Act now.  Please see how do I apply.

Groundfish Observer Requirements:

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

Alaska Groundfishing Observer Holding Two Fish

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