Seasonal Vacancy Announcement – Test Fishing Observers Role Overview
The Pacific Salmon Commission (PSC) Secretariat is hiring up to two seasonal Test Fishing Observers to collect test fishing catch and biological data required to provide fisheries management advice to the Fraser River Panel. The following test fisheries are located on the lower Fraser River and operate daily in-season to monitor Fraser River sockeye and pink salmon migrations:
1. Brownsville Bar (Richmond, BC) July 10 – September 7
2. Whonnock (Maple Ridge, BC) June 25 – September 23
Dates of operation are approximate and subject to change as in-season management decisions are made. Approximate length of employment does not preclude earlier termination with two weeks notice or reassignment to a similar role. Applicants must be available for the entire duration of the test fishery that they are applying for.
Operations
The lower Fraser River test fisheries operate using gillnet test fishing vessels, each crewed by a skipper and a deckhand. The test fishery operates every day of the season, including weekends, at a different time each day dependent on the timing of the preferred fishing tide. Each workday length is dependent on catch sizes and is typically a total of four to eight hours, starting no earlier than 6:00 a.m. and ending no later than 11:00 p.m. Test Fishing Observers will be compensated for overtime and will be paid for a minimum of four hours on each day worked. Test Fishing Observers will report to the Test Fishing Operations Manager.
Duties and Responsibilities
• Report to the test fishing vessel at a predetermined departure time
• Observe and record onboard catch effort, and environmental data
• Provide physical and electronic copies of catch and effort data to the PSC Secretariat in a timely manner
• Conduct biological sampling of landed catch (i.e., scales, DNA tissue, heads, length, mass, and sex)
• Facilitate the transport of biological samples, as required
• Verify financial records regarding the sale of landed fish
Minimum Qualifications (Essential)
• Willingness to work flexible hours and seven days per week
• Effective and consistent communication skills
• Neat handwriting
• Ability to communicate and clearly document technical data
• Ability to work independently
• Valid Driver’s Licence
• Access to personal vehicle for transportation to/from the test fishing vessel
Advantages (Assets)
• Ability to identify Pacific salmon species
• Familiarity with Pacific salmon fisheries
• Experience sampling fish (preferably salmon)
• Experience onboard vessels
• Experience collecting field data
Wages will begin at $25.42 CAD per hour, depending on experience plus 4% in lieu of vacation. Interested applicants should email a cover letter and résumé detailing clearly how they meet each qualification. Please also include contact information for two references. Applicants should submit via e-mail to Ms. Angela Xu at resumes@psc.org by 11:59 p.m. PDT Wednesday March 19, 2025.
Please reference the name of the position you are interested in and which test fishing location(s) in the email subject line. Applicants may apply for more than one Test Fishing Observer position.
Applicants must specify which position(s) they are applying for in their cover letter and order of preference.
Candidates selected for interviews will be contacted after the closing date.
For additional seasonal positions available at the Pacific Salmon Commission for the 2025 season, please visit https://www.psc.org/about-us/history-purpose/employment-opportunities/ If interested in applying to multiple seasonal positions with the PSC, please submit separate applications for each position.
The PSC acknowledges that the Brownsville Bar and Whonnock test fishery sites are on the stó:lō téméxw (traditional territory) of the stó:lō xwélmexw (stó:lō peoples).
The PSC is committed to employment equity, diversity, and inclusion and encourages all qualified individuals to apply.