North Pacific Groundfish
Description of Work:
Observers live and work aboard U.S.-flagged commercial fishing vessels operating in the Bering Sea, North Pacific, and the Gulf of Alaska. Observers sample catches for species composition, and for the incidence of salmon, halibut, and crab; they make estimates of total catch; and they collect age structures and gather biological data from target species. Observers may also spend some periods of their deployments assigned to shore-based processing plants in Alaska, gathering similar management data. The National Marine Fisheries Service uses this information for the purposes of both in-season management and to establish fishing quotas for future seasons.
The vessels we work with make trips lasting anywhere from one week to over a month in length, while plant assignments can last as little as several days to as long as a month or more. While aboard at-sea assignments, which comprise the vast majority of our work, Observers can expect to work with both trawl and fixed gear vessels.
Location:
Following a three-week training held in Seattle, Washington, Observers begin their field deployments.
An Observer may board an Alaska-bound vessel in Seattle or may fly to Alaska to join their first assignment in Dutch Harbor, Kodiak, or another Alaskan port.
Contract Information:
Paid training courses are generally held in late December, January, March, April, May, June, and August of each year. North Pacific Groundfish Observers make an initial commitment to make multiple deployments.
Compensation and Benefits:
Observers receive a salary of $1550 and per diem of $550.00 for their three week training. Following training, observers are deployed to the field and begin making a monthly salary of $4,610.70, and they receive per diem of $53 for each day they are in the field and unattached to a vessel. In addition to providing housing during training, AOI provides housing for any nights spent in Alaska unattached to an assignment, and throughout the post-deployment debriefing process in Seattle. Observers are not required to relocate to work in the North Pacific Program. North Pacific Observers typically maintain residences in their home states and fly to and from Seattle before and after periods of employment. Health insurance is offered, and Observers are enrolled in a pension fund and in addition have the option to participate in a 401k plan.
We encourage observers who are successful during their first trips to return and make additional deployments for AOI. Observers receive incremental salary increases depending on the amount of time they have spent in the field. Currently, our top salary for experienced North Pacific observers is $7,162.80 per month. As our observers gain experience, they also qualify for additional training that enables them to cover assignments that include premium pay of an additional $20.00 to $38.00 per day.
The National Marine Fisheries Service provides observers with survival suits, life-vests, and hard hats, along with all sampling equipment.
To find further information about the program, visit the official Observer Program website below