Break Into Marine Biology the Hardy Way
Alaskan Fishery Observers Test Themselves Against the North Pacific
May 24, 2009
At-sea observers play a critical role in maintaining sustainable fisheries in the North Pacific. They are responsible for collecting data on fish caught and kept (catch), and fish caught and discarded (bycatch). Observers also document fishery interactions with marine mammals and birds, and monitor a fishing boat’s compliance with federal fisheries regulations.
To provide these services for hundreds of boats and many different kinds of fisheries, contracting companies keep a full complement of candidates which the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) can draw from. The sheer numbers hired make it a good bet for newly minted marine biologists looking to gain experience.
What Being a Fisheries Observer Involves
Experience is a broad term, however. Observing is not a “job” in the sense that most people think. Consider the following example:
The would-be observer runs down the list of attributes contracting companies require and his heart soars: at last, a professional skill set that is within his reach as a new graduate!
- A Bachelor’s Degree with a major in a natural science (fisheries, wildlife, or marine biology, oceanography, or environmental science)
- A minimum of 30 credit hours in relevant biological sciences
- A minimum of one course each in math and statistics
- Class work or work experience that required use of taxonomic keys
- Ability to work independently in difficult environments
- Problem solving aptitude
- Safety conscious
- Professionalism
“I can do this!” he thinks. He applies, is accepted, and jumps for joy. At last! His career has begun. Gleefully he begins counting in his mind the thousands of dollars a month he will bank while cruising the beautiful waters of Alaska.
Fast forward two months. Somewhere off Kodiak Island in the Gulf of Alaska, the sea sick observer is cold and puking in rough seas. His hands are punctured raw with rockfish spines. He is physically exhausted by 16 hours of work, faces several tons of fish as yet unsampled on deck, and the boat’s deck boss is irritated because all these baskets of *^&##@!!* fish are in the way.
Not the typical 9 to 5.
Emotional Intelligence Quotient
Intellectually, observers are well prepared for their scientific work due to schooling and three weeks of NMFS observer training. The real test, however, is made on their Emotional Intelligence Quotient, or EQ. EQ describes the ability to identify, assess, and manage the emotions of one’s self, others, and groups. And fishery observing tests EQ daily.
Here are some basic EQ traits observers might cultivate, to make their deployment a success.
- Situational Awareness. An observer is essentially a guest in the fisherman’s "home away from home," and views fishing differently than the crew. Respecting a fisherman’s livelihood keeps one from going overboard.
- Emotional stability. An observer can’t blindly behave as they feel, as feelings are nothing more than signposts to beliefs. If an observer believes a good work day is 8 hours, they are in trouble. They approach the ballpark if they double that to 16. And the NMFS Random Sampling Table doesn’t care if the observer is short of sleep. Statistics are a harsh mistress.
- People skills. In close, rugged quarters, it pays to not criticize, condemn or complain. And observers who learn something about interacting with different personalities relate better, experience better living dynamics, and seldom find rotting fish in their bunk.
- Willingness to go the extra mile. An observer lives in a glass house. He improves his lot with a crew if he goes above and beyond doing just “his” work. By mopping the galley floor, washing dishes, breaking fish from freezers, and helping out wherever possible, the observer frees the fishermen for other tasks. It is noticed, appreciated, and easily parleyed into beer once back in port.
Knowledge of fish ID, sampling theory, and NMFS protocols are important. But a good observer is not just a competent biologist. They are a flexible, emotionally strong, problem-solving diplomat with a sense of adventure. As they grow in these skills, they gain far more than just a resume bullet. They gain the sense that they can do, and survive, anything their field will throw at them.
Sources
NOAA Fisheries: Office of Science and Technology. 2009. National Observer Program, North Pacific and Bering Sea Groundfish, Trawl, and Fixed Gear Fishery. May 23, 2009.
 |
 |
 |
