West Coast Groundfish Observer Program

Alaskan Observers, Inc. (AOI) is currently recruiting biologists to enter training in March of 2010.

Description of Work:

The vessels operating in this fishery range in size from 35 feet to 100 feet. Observers will sample on a variety of gear types, including trawl, longline, pot, and shrimp trawl. Trips will generally be one to five days in length. The project offers observers the opportunity to work twelve-month or longer contracts (as opposed to the typical three-month contract in the North Pacific). Observers can expect to be sampling at sea approximately 12 to 20 days per month, gathering fishing effort and location information, sampling for species composition, and collecting biological data from both prohibited and target species. While onshore observers can also expect to work on shoreside tasks which will include making dock rounds, entering and editing data, debriefing, performing safety reviews, and contacting vessels to be observed.

Contract Information:

West Coast trainings are held once each year. In the fall of 2009, AOI will begin recruiting biologists for the March, 2010 West Coast training. Observers who attend the March training will be under contract through October 31, 2010. They will then have the opportunity to pursue subsequent contracts and continue working with the program beyond the end of October.

Location of Work:

Following training, observers will be required to relocate to a home port in Washington, Oregon, or California for the duration of their contracts. Ports available for assignment include Neah Bay, WA; Astoria, Newport, Coos Bay, Brookings, and Port Orford, OR; and Crescent City, Eureka, Bodega Bay, Fort Bragg, Monterey, Halfmoon Bay, San Francisco, and Santa Barbara, CA.

Compensation and Benefits:

The compensation package is a combination of a base salary, which observers receive regardless of how many days in a month they are deployed to vessels, plus additional pay for at-sea days (observers are paid for a minimum of 12 deployed days each month). Basic medical insurance is also provided. In addition to the compensation outlined below, observers receive up to $350.00 for relocation expenses, will be reimbursed for meal expenses incurred during travel to and from deployments outside their home ports, and will be compensated for mileage driven during deployment-related travel outside their home ports (observers must provide their own automobiles). West Coast observers can also particapte in AOI's 401-k plan after working for 4-months, and can establish tax-advantaged Flexible Medical Spending Accounts after 6 months on the job.

General Compensation Information (2009)

All Washington and Oregon ports and south to Eureka, CA:
Base salary = $2564 per month;
Total compensation (based on a minimum of 12 deployed days per month) = $3626 per month.

Fort Bragg south to Monterey, CA:
Base salary = $3026 per month;
Total compensation (based on a minimum of 12 deployed days per month) = $4279 per month

Morro Bay, CA and south to LA, CA:
Base salary = $2849 per month;
Total compensation (based on a minimum of 12 deployed days per month) = $4028 per month.

Observers will receive a pay increase of approximately 6% after completing the first four months of their contracts.

Qualifications:

Qualfications include a Bachelor's degree in the biological sciences. A minimum of thirty days of prior experience at sea as a fishery observer or similar marine experience is preferred, but not required.

To Apply:

Please complete an application and send a resume, a cover letter stating your interest in the West Coast Program, and transcripts (a photocopy, rather than an official transcript, is fine) to:

David Edick
Alaskan Observers, Inc.
130 Nickerson, Suite 206
Seattle, WA 98109.

Resumes, cover letters, and transcripts can also be sent via e-mail
to: aoistaff@alaskanobservers.com,or via fax to 206-283-6519.