Gear Liaison
About The Position
Ocean Associates Inc. (OAI) is seeking an applicant to work with the fishing industry and other organizations to create and test gear modifications on commercial fishing vessels, effectively communicate operational aspects of the fishing gear and assist in the evaluation of gear testing, provide outreach to assist fishermen in implementing protected species gear modifications. OAI is a Virginia corporation established in 2003 that provides consulting and technical services to the U.S. government, non-governmental organizations, international organizations, and the private sector. We specialize in scientific program and project management, strategic planning, professional and technical services, and stakeholder engagement, supporting government contracts. The Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office (GARFO) of the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) administers NOAA's programs in the Northeastern United States to manage living marine resources for optimum use. GARFO is responsible for planning, organizing and implementing programs for fishery management, resource allocations, and habitat and protected species (endangered and threatened species and marine mammals) conservation. The NMFS GARFO Protected Resources Division (PRD) is responsible for implementation of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) covering the geographic range from Maine to Virginia. Protected species within this range include marine mammals, sea turtles, Atlantic salmon, Atlantic sturgeon and shortnose sturgeon. Occasionally, GARFO PRD also supports work in different regions nationally.
Requirements
- Bachelors or Master’s degree and three (3) years of experience in environmental science or associated discipline (e.g., biology, ecology, fisheries biology, marine biology, natural resource management, conservation biology, landscape ecology, or restoration ecology). A relevant degree may be substituted by two additional years of relevant experience.
- Experience conducting field studies, data analysis, and evaluation of potential solutions on how to mitigate sea turtle and marine mammal bycatch in fishing gear.
- Experience working with fishing gear including but not limited to: trawl, gillnet, traps/pots.
- Experienced in scientific and report writing.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Nice To Haves
- Experience supporting entanglement gear analysis.
Responsibilities
- Participate in field studies, data analysis, and evaluation of potential solutions on how to mitigate sea turtle and marine mammal bycatch in fishing gear.
- Participate with the regional and science center gear team in projects directed at reducing large whale sea turtle (trawl, gillnet, traps/pots) and other protected species bycatch in fixed gear (trap/pots and gillnets) fisheries in Northwest Atlantic waters.
- Participate in field studies, data analysis, and evaluations of projects directed at mitigating sea turtle and other protected species bycatch in bottom trawl gear; such as evaluating Turtle Excluder Devices (TED) testing as determined by the GARFO, with input from the NEFSC and Southeastern Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC).
- Support compilation and evaluation of project results.
- Provide regular outreach including dockside demonstrations of appropriate gear installation.
- Support Law Enforcement inspection and compliance monitoring.
- Support entanglement gear analysis in collaboration with the Region and Center gear team and gear warehouse curation and record keeping.
Benefits
- This is a full-time position with benefits.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
