West Coast Groundfish Observers
West Coast groundfish observers gather data onboard commercial fishing boats working out of ports along the West Coast of the United States. Assignments my be based out of Bellingham, WA, Astoria, OR, Newport, OR, Coos Bay, OR, Crescent City, CA, Eureka, CA, Fort Bragg, CA and San Francisco, CA.
Boats in the West Coast fleet range in size from 18-foot longliners to 70+-foot trawlers. Conditions vary widely, but all require observers to be flexible, resourceful, able to work long hours, and do some heavy lifting (up to 80 pounds). Some vessels may not have bathrooms nor showers. The workday is determined by the vessel's fishing schedule and NMFS sampling protocols and can range from 5-15 hours a day. Trips can last from anywhere 1 to 5 days, with multiple back-to-back deployments common.
Noyo Harbor, California
West Coast Groundfish Observer Duties:
- Provide independent catch estimates
- Sample species composition
- Provide fish ID and measurements
- Collect biological samples
- Monitor marine mammal and bird interactions
- Document fishing activity (set times, positions, gear performance, etc.)
- Record and report all data to NMFS
- Comply with all regulatory requirements
- Carry out assigned special projects
Specific West Coast Groundfish Observer Requirements:
Fishing Vessel Eureka, California
In addition to the general requirements that must be met by all observer candidates (see About Observing), West Coast observers must also fulfill the following specific requirements:
- 30 semester hours in applicable biological sciences
- A college level course in math and statistics (minimum of 5 credit hours combined)
- A college level course with the use of dichotomous(taxonomic) keys
- Computer experience
- A CPR and First Aid certification
West Coast Groundfish Observer Training:
Observer training is an intensive 2-week course offered by NMFS at various times throughout the year in Seattle, WA or Newport, OR. Please see the current Observer Training Schedule. Candidates must pass this training to be eligible for a contract with Saltwater. All transcripts for observer candidates must be submitted by Saltwater to NMFS prior to the training. Please see How Do I Apply?
