Northeast Fisheries Observer
With more than 30 years of experience, A.I.S., Inc. has become known as the provider of choice within the marine services community. AIS has an established portfolio in delivering high quality, performance based, professional, scientific and technical services in coastal communities from Maine to North Carolina, the Gulf of Mexico and the Gulf of Alaska. Our accomplishments are based on our ability to mobilize and support a highly qualified and geographically dispersed workforce of professionals, our commitment to providing outstanding customer service and our industry leading fisheries observer pay and benefit packages. With A.I.S, Accuracy, Integrity and Service always come first.
A.I.S. offers its new eligible fisheries observers the following:
- A competitive hourly rate
- Comprehensive 3 week hands on training program
- Overtime pay in accordance with state and federal regulations
- Data quality bonus
- Sea Day incentive bonus
- Service award
- Observer of month bonus
- Generous paid vacation and sick time allowances
- 10 paid holidays per year
- Health and Welfare stipend of over $4.00 per hour in lieu of medical benefits
- Extremely achievable 36 sea day quota per quarter allowing for work life balance
- Step up to Observer II title with generous pay increase over observer starting rate once you achieve 75 sea days within your first year.
- Profit Sharing
- 401(k) savings investment account
- 80% employer contribution to medical and dental benefits
- Company paid life insurance
- Company paid short and long term disability insurance
- Company paid vision plan through VSP
- Monthly gym/fitness membership reimbursement
- Referral bonus
- Annual performance reviews
- Promote from within philosophy
- Supportive management and executive staff
- National Certification as a fisheries observer from the National Marine Fisheries Service
- A chance to make a difference with respect to fisheries sustainability and conservation that will benefit future generations
Want to make a difference? Commercial fishing dates back hundreds of years. Today commercial fishing continues to be possible due to cooperation between fishermen and fisheries management scientists. In order to facilitate that cooperation, fisheries observers collect data pertaining g to fishing programs, economics, catch data, and fishing efficiency. Collected data is used to document stock information which is then used to protect the environment and preserve future generations of fish/fishermen. Commit to the journey!
Learn More About Becoming a Fisheries Observer
Responsibilities: Work at sea collecting and recording data and biological samples for the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) aboard commercial fishing vessels. Observers work on deck on vessels ranging from 40’ to 100’ on trips ranging from 1 to 14 days collecting data on fish catch and discard and incidental takes such as marine mammals, seabirds and marine turtles. Positions are located in ports in the Northeast. This is a challenging job and candidates must be physically able to handle heavy lifting, working odd hours and long days in rough seas. Observing provides an excellent start to a career in marine biology, as observers are widely recognized as being excellent field biologists.
Compensation: These are full time positions based on an average of 12 sea days a month with an income potential of $30K to $50K+ based on motivation. Observers will be paid a minimum of 12 hours of work pay for each day at sea and may be eligible for additional paid time while on land. The AIS benefits package includes health and dental insurance, vacation, sick and holiday benefits. Health and welfare compensation at an additional $4.00 plus per hour is available in lieu of medical benefits.
Potential additional compensation consists of performance incentives, service awards, fitness center reimbursement, referral bonus, monthly sea day accomplishment bonus.
Travel is reimbursed at an hourly rate along with compensation for miles accrued on a personal vehicle as well as per diem at the specified Government rate.
Training: Three-week, paid training course starting April 2020 in Falmouth, MA. Accommodations and meals provided. Training includes instructions on sampling protocols, gear, fisheries, fish identification, marine mammal/sea turtle identification and safety.
Qualifications: A BS in Marine Biology or Biology with 30 credits of biology coursework, 6 credits of marine science and a math class is required. Candidates are expected to commit to the program for at least a year. Your own transportation is required. At-sea experience is desirable. Candidates must be a US Citizen or a non-citizen who has legally resided in US for the past 2 years.
Apply/Contact: If you would like to apply, please click the external application link on Handshake to submit the required information: resume, cover letter, at least 5 professional references (name, email address and phone number), and unofficial copies of your college transcripts. All documents must be submitted in order for your application to be considered.
Closing: Open until filled
More information:
This is a full time position • Must be able to work in the U.S. • VEVRAA Federal Contractor • Request Priority Protected Veteran Referrals • Equal Opportunity Employer • For more information please visit the AIS, Inc. website www.aisobservers.com
An Equal Opportunity Employer
It is the policy of A.I.S. to recruit, hire, train, promote, transfer and compensate our employees and provide all other conditions of employment including Company sponsored events without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, lawful alien status, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, citizenship status, veteran status or any other status protected by applicable law.