Individual Placement - Fish and Aquatic Conservation

Student Conservation Association•Vero Beach, FL

13d•Onsite

About The Position

This internship provides hands-on experience supporting the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Fish and Aquatic Conservation Program through a unique blend of Early Detection Rapid Response (EDRR) fieldwork and hatchery-based fish culture activities. Interns will assist with invasive species surveillance, fisheries sampling, environmental DNA (eDNA) collection, and data management while contributing to mission-critical conservation and restoration efforts across the Southeast Region. In addition, participants will gain practical experience in hatchery operations, including fish husbandry, water quality monitoring, spawning support, and fish distribution. The project’s goal is to build workforce capacity for aquatic invasive species management while providing interns with comprehensive exposure to both field biology and hatchery operations. Interns will work closely with federal, state, Tribal, and partner staff, gaining real-world skills in applied fisheries science, biosecurity, and conservation program support.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED
Ability to lift and carry more than 50 lbs
Ability to work safely in aquatic, muddy, and uneven environments
Ability to legally work in the U.S. (part of SCA’s National Direct AmeriCorps program)
This SCA Position is authorized under the Public Land Corps Authority. All participants must be between the ages of 16 and 30, inclusive, or veterans age 35 or younger. Participants must also be a citizen or national of the United States or lawful permanent resident alien of the United States. Hours served can be applied toward the Public Land Corps (PLC) hiring authority.
Personal Vehicle Required

Nice To Haves

Associate's or Bachelor’s degree in fisheries, biology, environmental science, wildlife, or related field (or equivalent experience)
1+ year of experience in aquatic sampling, conservation work, hatchery operations, or fish culture
Experience with fish husbandry, water quality testing, spawning/rearing, or fisheries field sampling
Ability to work effectively in strenuous outdoor and hatchery environments while maintaining attention to detail and safety

Responsibilities

Water collections for eDNA analyses
Physical sampling using a variety of fisheries gears (electrofishing boats, backpack and barge electrofishers, cast nets, minnow traps, seines, fyke nets, dipnets, hook-and-line, etc.)
Assisting Tribal, Federal, and state partners in aquatic invasive species monitoring and management
Supporting Fish Slam / Bioblitz events to document introductions and range expansions of non-native species
Conducting population estimates, evaluating gear effectiveness, and standardizing protocols
Implementing EDRR field preparations and after-action tasks (float plans, mapping, equipment staging, disinfection, cleaning, and storage)
Performing data entry, QA/QC, and technical reporting
Assisting with daily fish husbandry tasks including feeding, monitoring, water quality sampling, and system checks
Supporting spawning operations, egg collection, egg incubation, larval rearing, and fry/fingerling culture
Monitoring pond and tank systems, including standpipe adjustments, pond filling/draining, algae and vegetation monitoring, and aeration systems
Assisting with pond harvests, sampling events, inventories, marking/tagging, and distribution of fish
Cleaning, disinfecting, and maintaining tanks, raceways, equipment, nets, culture systems, and work areas
Supporting biosecurity and sanitation protocols
Participating in grounds upkeep, minor repairs, equipment checks, and organizing culture supplies
Supporting multi-program coordination across fish production, mussel propagation (if applicable), and EDRR operations
Field sampling and data processing
Fish husbandry tasks including feeding, monitoring, water quality sampling, and system checks
Data entry and quality assurance checks
Fisheries tasks such as electrofishing, boating, trailering, stomach content analysis, and sampling operations
Support for spawning, incubation, rearing, and harvests of cultured species
Preparation and maintenance of field and hatchery equipment
Detailed reporting, communication, and administrative tasks
Cleaning and maintaining vehicles, vessels, nets, tanks, ponds, and workspaces
Supporting biological assessments, inventory work, and other conservation tasks