Commercial Fishing Gear Technician and Small Boat Operator

Duties: Construct, repair, and maintain Turtle Excluder Devices, Bycatch Reduction Devices, and other selective fishing gear. Prepare fishing gear for use as training aids and in Harvesting Unit research projects. Provide gear expertise and assistance for fishery-independent and fishery-dependent evaluations of modified fishing gear. Operate and maintain Class A, Class I, and Class II Mississippi Laboratory research vessels. Trailer vessels and other large or heavy loads across rural and interstate highways. Assist with workshops, industry meetings, and dockside training for commercial fishers on federally required fishing gear. Conduct training for federal and state marine law enforcement personnel on fishing gear inspection procedures. Conduct at-sea and dockside inspections of Turtle Excluder Devices and document technical compliance with federal regulations. Read trawl-construction diagrams and perform trawl sewing and repair. Assist with technical, instructional, oral, and printed training materials. Deliver oral and hands-on demonstrations concerning the construction and proper use of Turtle Excluder Devices. Prepare trip reports, outreach reports, vessel logbooks, and other required activity summaries. Assist with emergency responses involving oil spills or other events affecting sea turtles. Maintain equipment, vessels, warehouse areas, shop spaces, and related work areas.

Qualifications: At least two years of experience in net construction and repair. At least two years of experience operating and maintaining small boats and associated equipment. Ability to obtain, within one year of hire, a United States Coast Guard Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vessels license and a Transportation Worker Identification Credential. Ability to obtain and maintain 40-hour HAZWOPER certification. Ability to obtain and maintain Red Cross CPR and Basic First Aid certifications. Ability to maintain all certifications and training required by the NOAA Small Boat Program. Ability to write summary trip reports. Ability to read and understand federal fisheries regulations. Physical ability to embark and disembark unassisted between a dock and a stationary vessel and between two vessels moving at sea, using both hands and feet.

Preferred Qualifications: Experience working in a commercial shrimp-trawl fishery or net shop. Knowledge of selective fishing methods and commercial fishing technology. Experience conducting public outreach events and public speaking. Basic computer and word-processing skills. Ability to read, write, and speak Vietnamese. Work EnvironmentThe position is based in Pascagoula, Mississippi. Work will occur in office, warehouse, net-shop, dockside, small boat, and at-sea environments. Employees must be able to work aboard vessels and safely move between docks and vessels. The position may support emergency response activities involving sea turtle protection. Facility access is generally available from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Travel and overtime must be authorized in accordance with contract requirements.