Fisheries Biologist

Government of Alberta•Edmonton, AB

2d•Onsite

About The Position

As the Ministry of Forestry and Parks, we promote environmentally responsible forest management, including wildfire control, and preserve provincial parks for public recreation. We manage public lands to support both conservation and sustainable use, including recreational access, commercial activities, and grazing leases for Alberta producers. We are seeking a Fisheries Biologist who will be responsible for assisting in the development and delivery of the Forestry and Parks fisheries allocation and use program. This includes fisheries management related program and activities designed to ensure the sustainable allocation of fish populations and fisheries. Reporting to the Provincial Fisheries Resource Specialist in the Hunting and Fishing Branch, Ministry of Forestry and Parks, the Fisheries Biologist is a professional level fisheries management biologist operating with a high degree of independence, with provincial-level responsibility focused on the sustainable allocation of fish to recreation, Indigenous and commercial uses, from lotic to lentic fisheries.

Requirements

A completed University degree (4 years) in environmental science/natural resource management, Conservation Management, Biology, Fisheries Management, Aquatics Ecology or a related field.
Minimum 4 years of directly related field experience in fisheries management.
A valid Class 5 Driver’s License or equivalent.
Related 2-year diploma plus 6 years of related experience.
Additional related education considered in lieu of experience based on one year of experience for one year of education.

Nice To Haves

Experience with Alberta’s Fisheries Management program.
A graduate degree (MSc or PhD) in environmental science/natural resource management, Conservation Management, Biology, Fisheries Management, Aquatics Ecology or a related field.
Experience managing large datasets including the management of data, data analysis and reporting. Experience with mapping software as it relates to data management and interpretation.
Experience with fisheries and aquatic ecological principles, data analysis and interpretation, project management, and the development of fisheries management plans.
Experience collaborating with multi-jurisdictional stakeholder groups including other levels of government.
Knowledge of relevant provincial and federal acts, regulations, policies, and procedures. Specifically, Alberta Fishery Regulations, Federal Fisheries Act, Fisheries Ministerial Regulation, General Fisheries Alberta Regulation, Fisheries Alberta Act, Federal Fisheries Act, and Federal Species at Risk Act.
Experience with operating off-highway vehicles (4X4, ATV, snowmobile), motorized boats (jet and propeller), use of firearms, specialized fisheries equipment including radio/acoustic telemetry, gill nets, trap nets, electro-fishing (backpack and boat), limnological and water sampling, and other fisheries management sampling equipment.

Responsibilities

Assisting in developing and planning fisheries management related projects that include policy development and implementation, planning and participating on teams responsible for single and multi-year projects, participating in research activities, collecting data, conducting data analysis, interpretation, and reporting.
Represents fisheries program interests when interacting with other agencies, government departments, resource industries, NGOs, local governments, stakeholders and the public concerning resource management activities and issues.
Function as a key member of an integrated team of professional and technical staff responsible for the management of fisheries resources in Alberta. The incumbent may represent Fisheries Management in various planning initiatives at the landscape and species management level as well as participating in interagency and multi-stakeholder resource management as well as department initiatives.
Reviews and identifies conditions for the issuance of licences such as competitive fishing event licences, bait fish licences etc.
Supervising technical or administrative staff as needed including identification of work priorities and developing as well as monitoring of performance agreements/work plans.