Jumpstart your fisheries career and gain hands-on experience working with Pacific Salmon at large-scale hatcheries in Alaska. Summer and Fall projects (June to September) will focus on eggtake operations - collecting eggs and milt from adult salmon. Project lengths focused on eggtake typically range from six to eight weeks, with limited projects ranging up to four months.
PERKS
Project Start Dates:
Armin F Koernig Hatchery (AFK)
Located on Evans Island at the south-western entrance of the Prince William Sound. AFK is a remote, off-grid facility only accessible by boat or float plane. Typical transport to AFK is provided via boat from Whittier, AK, and the direct route is about three hours. This facility will rear pink and chum salmon for release into the ocean as fry. Approximately 172 million pink salmon and 19.5 million chum salmon fry are released every year in May. An additional 40 million chum salmon fry are released at the remote station site in Port Chalmers every year in May. AFK collects approximately 190 million pink salmon eggs during eggtake operations in late August through late September.
Cannery Creek Hatchery (CCH)
Located in Unakwik Inlet at the northern end of the Prince William Sound. CCH is a remote, off-grid facility only accessible by boat or float plane. Typical transport to CCH is provided via boat from Whittier, AK, and the direct route is about two hours. This facility will rear pink salmon for release into the ocean as fry. Approximately 168 million pink salmon fry are released every year in May. CCH collects approximately 187 million pink salmon eggs during eggtake operations in late August through late September.
Gulkana Hatchery (GH)
Located in the interior near Paxson, AK, along the Gulkana River. GH is a rural facility accessible by vehicle with a remote, off-grid release and collection site, Crosswinds, located in a backcountry/wilderness setting. Typical transport to GH is provided via vehicle from Anchorage, AK, and the direct route is about five hours. Typical transport to Crosswinds is provided via small air bushcraft. This facility will rear sockeye salmon for release into lakes and rivers as fry. Approximately 22 million sockeye salmon fry are released every year, beginning in April and ending in July. GH collects approximately 36.75 million sockeye salmon eggs during eggtake operations in late August through early October.
Main Bay Hatchery (MBH)
Located at Main Bay in the mid-west section of Prince William Sound, south of Whittier. MBH is a remote, off-grid facility only accessible by boat or float plane. Typical transport to MBH is provided via boat from Whittier, AK, and the direct route is about one and a half hours. This facility will rear sockeye salmon for release into the ocean as smolt. Approximately 10.5 million sockeye salmon smolt are released every year in May. MBH collects approximately 12.4 million sockeye salmon eggs during eggtake operations in late July through late August.
Wally Noerenberg Hatchery (WNH)
Located on Esther Island in the Prince William Sound, east of Whittier. WNH is a remote, off-grid facility only accessible by boat or float plane. Typical transport to WNH is provided via boat from Whittier, AK, and the direct route is about one hour. This facility will rear pink, chum, and coho salmon for release into the ocean as fry and smolt. Approximately 133 million pink salmon fry and 73 million chum fry are released every year in May. About 3.5 million coho salmon and 46 thousand chinook salmon smolt are released in June. WNH collects approximately 148 million pink, 153 million chum, 4 million coho, and 50 thousand chinook salmon eggs during eggtake operations.
POSITION SUMMARY:
The Fisheries Technician is a vital member of the hatchery operations team, supporting the cultivation, propagation, harvest, spawning, and rearing of Pacific Salmon. This position requires residency at the hatchery site and on-premises attendance. The position during peak operations may require tasks for fish monitoring performed outside of the standard working schedule.
This position spans three tiers of responsibility:
- (Entry-Level) Tier I performs routine, entry-level fish culture and hands-on labor tasks under close supervision
- (Intermediate) Tier II performs semi-skilled hatchery project-based duties with increased independence and gains technical proficiency
- (Advanced) Tier III performs advanced technical duties and may act as a lead in day-to-day hatchery projects
All tiers of Fisheries Technicians work across hatchery, field, and marine environments, performing fish husbandry, biological sampling, data collection, equipment operation, small boat handling, and facility maintenance.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBLITIES
Tier I (Entry-Level)
- Assist with Eggtake procedures, including enumerating, killing, spawning, and carcass disposal
- Prepare and clean incubators, raceways, troughs, pens, and tanks
- Hand-feed fry and smolt using manual hand tools
- Assist with incubation procedures, including loading, enumerating, picking, and caring for eggs
- Assist with outmigration and release of fry and/or smolt
- May assist with maintaining harvest equipment and operations, including loading, transporting, and unloading harvest sampling gear
- Record basic data using paper forms or digital devices
- Perform general site cleanup, minor repairs, groundskeeping, and snow removal
- Operate small boats (skiffs) for saltwater rearing and other equipment such as hand and power tools
- Report to work reliably and on time, and must communicate any anticipated absences or delays to their supervisor in advance whenever possible
- Adhere to all safety protocols and workplace policies relevant to this position
- Maintain professionalism and respectful conduct to support a positive and constructive workplace; behavior that undermines safety or mutual respect is not acceptable
Tier II (Intermediate)
- Perform all duties in Tier I with limited or no supervision
- Under rare circumstances may assist in biological sampling to collect scales, otoliths, and ovaries
- Under rare circumstances may assist with scale mounting and otolith reading
- Operate small boats (skiffs) and ATVs for assigned hatchery activities
- Maintain and adjust water systems under direction to ensure optimal conditions for fish health
- Use computers and software to enter and organize data
- Lead small task teams and assist with mentoring Tier I technicians
Tier III (Advanced)
- Perform all duties listed in Tier I and Tier II with limited or no supervision
- Perform independent fish culture tasks during all hatchery life stage cycles
- Act as a lead in hatchery projects and labor tasks
- Mentor Tier I and Tier II technicians
- Operate small boats (skiffs), ATVs, and snowmobiles for assigned hatchery activities
- Under rare circumstances may assist with basic laboratory tasks, identifying plankton and processing fish biological samples
- Maintain logs and forms for data collection
- Collect and record harvest sampling data
- Recommend and adapt techniques to improve efficiency and safety
WORK ENVIRONMENT
- Work will be performed at hatchery facilities and remote field sites, in rural or off-grid areas
- Exposure to water and marine conditions
- Exposure to all weather conditions and outdoor environments
- Exposure to wild animals, flora, and fauna
- Exposure to firearms, heavy machinery, and equipment
- Exposure to hazardous materials commonly found in fish culture work, fish waste, and other biological materials such as fish-borne bacteria and parasites, and bloodborne pathogens
- Exposure to physical agents such as cold, heat, noise, and hand-arm vibration
- Travel by small boat (skiffs), landing craft, small aircraft, and motorized vehicles
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
- Must be physically capable of lifting and carrying up to 50 pounds and performing strenuous tasks in a field-based/remote setting, rugged outdoor, and marine environments in varying weather conditions
- Ability to climb stairs, ladders, and board vessels without assistance
- Ability to move freely around docks, floats, and uneven terrain
- Ability to use small boats (skiffs), hand tools, and power tools in line with manufacturer or operator standards
- Ability to recognize safety hazards/concerns and practice All-Stop safety approach
- Must be able to comprehend and communicate using the English language
- Must be able to hear and see to receive and interpret instructions
- Must be able to use telephones, computers, and other communication devices
DISCLAIMER
Duties and responsibilities described are not a comprehensive list, and additional tasks may be assigned from time to time. The scope of the job may change as necessitated by business demands.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Tier I
- High school diploma or equivalent
Tier II
- 6 months of Tier I experience at a PWSAC hatchery facility
Substitutions
- Associates or Bachelor's in aquaculture, fisheries, marine biology, or a closely related field may replace 6 months of Tier I experience
Tier III
- 12 months of Tier II experience at a PWSAC hatchery facility
Substitutions
- 18 months of paid semi-skilled experience equivalent to Tier II duties at a salmonid hatchery/aquaculture facility
Additional Requirements
Tiers I/II/III
- Current and valid driver’s license preferred for some locations and projects
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Ability to safely operate small boats, snowmobiles, hand tools, and power tools
- Ability to follow detailed instructions and maintain accurate records
- Ability to perform simple arithmetic
- Ability to perform physically demanding work over extended periods of time; includes lifting 50lb bags of fish feed
- Ability to work independently as directed and as a part of a team in remote and challenging environments
- Demonstrates resilience, adaptability, and self-sufficiency in isolated and resource-limited settings, maintaining productivity and emotional stability while living and working in extremely remote environments
- Ability to work safely in the proximity of wild animals
- Exercise sound judgment and maintain professional conduct while working in challenging environments
- Strong communication, organizational, and observational skills
- Basic computer proficiency for data entry
- Collaborate effectively and respectfully with employees, colleagues, public, vendors, contract staff, and any other stakeholders
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Tier I
- High school diploma or equivalent
Tier II
- 6 months of Tier I experience at a PWSAC hatchery facility
Substitutions
- Associates or Bachelor's in aquaculture, fisheries, marine biology, or a closely related field may replace 6 months of Tier I experience
Tier III
- 12 months of Tier II experience at a PWSAC hatchery facility
Substitutions
- 18 months of paid semi-skilled experience equivalent to Tier II duties at a salmonid hatchery/aquaculture facility
Additional Requirements
Tiers I/II/III
- Current and valid driver’s license preferred for some locations and projects
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Ability to safely operate small boats, snowmobiles, hand tools, and power tools
- Ability to follow detailed instructions and maintain accurate records
- Ability to perform simple arithmetic
- Ability to perform physically demanding work over extended periods of time; includes lifting 50lb bags of fish feed
- Ability to work independently as directed and as a part of a team in remote and challenging environments
- Demonstrates resilience, adaptability, and self-sufficiency in isolated and resource-limited settings, maintaining productivity and emotional stability while living and working in extremely remote environments
- Ability to work safely in the proximity of wild animals
- Exercise sound judgment and maintain professional conduct while working in challenging environments
- Strong communication, organizational, and observational skills
- Basic computer proficiency for data entry
- Collaborate effectively and respectfully with employees, colleagues, public, vendors, contract staff, and any other stakeholders
