Individual Placement - Fish Hatchery at Craig Brook National FH

Student Conservation Association•Orlando, FL

3d•Onsite

About The Position

Interns will learn all aspects of caring for endangered Atlantic salmon from seven populations and maintaining a modern conservation hatchery. Craig Brook National Fish Hatchery is the premier Atlantic salmon hatchery operated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The opportunities to learn about Atlantic salmon, conservation efforts and cold-water fish culture are unparalleled.

Requirements

Course work: biology, ecology, fisheries science, aquaculture and related subjects.
Some experience in fisheries or aquaculture is strongly preferred.
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.
Car required

Nice To Haves

A strong interest in fisheries management, hatchery operation or aquaculture.
Ability to work collaboratively within a team of peers as well as on independent projects.
Willingness to work in challenging environmental conditions including heat, cold, uneven walking surfaces, and working in and around water [plan on getting wet a lot!]

Responsibilities

Primary duties include cleaning of rearing units, tanks and pools, rearing unit repairs, pressure washing rearing areas, grounds maintenance, and other general maintenance as required.
Secondary duties include feeding juvenile and adult broodstock and learning to calculate feed rates, monitoring growth of future broodstock, conducting routine biological sampling, maintaining automated feeders and hand feed containers.
Seasonal duties include releasing juvenile salmon [May], transporting adult salmon from a trapping facility to the hatchery [May – July], collecting biological samples for disease screening and genetic characterization [May – July], tagging juvenile future broodstock [July], electrofishing to collect juvenile salmon [September], and spawning adult Atlantic salmon [November – December].
Assist with seasonal activities at Green Lake National Fish Hatchery including moving fry to outside rearing areas [May-June], collecting growth data and distributing parr amongst outside rearing areas [July-August], grading fall parr and parr distribution to the rivers [September].
Assist with other FWS, NPS, and State of Maine offices.
Participate in/provide tours to the general public and visiting school groups.
Participate in meetings of our friends group, local lake associations and our local 4H fishing club.