Commercial Fishery Observer - Sci Tech 2 - Part-Time/On-Call Non-Perm - 8 Openings - 2026-03753

Posting number: 2026-03753

Department: Dept. of Fish and Wildlife

Job classification: SCIENTIFIC TECHNICIAN 2

Posting type: Open & Promotional

Categories: Environmental Services, Parks and Beaches, Recreation, Parks and Recreation, Natural Resources, Wetlands, Sciences, Green-Collar/Environmental, Wildlife

Summary

Characters : 0

Title- Commercial Fishery Observer

Classification- Scientific Technician 2

Job Status- Part-Time / On-Call / Non-Permanent

Number of Vacancies- Eight (8)

Appointment Length- 5 months – July 6, 2026 – December 15, 2026

WDFW Program- Fish Program
Duty Station- Olympia, Washington –Thurston County

Posting Timeframe-This recruitment has been reopened to increase the applicant pool. If you applied previously, your application is still under consideration and you do not need to reapply.

Learn more about being a member of Team WDFW!

A person wearing a red rain jacket and blue gloves smiles while holding a large fish horizontally on a fishing boat. The deck behind them is covered with more fish, and calm water with a forested shoreline is visible in the background under soft, partly cloudy light.

Commercial Fisheries Observer – Photo Credit: WDFW

This is an opportunity to gain hands-on field experience in fisheries while directly supporting conservation and sustainable management efforts in Puget Sound.

In these roles, you’ll work alongside commercial fishing crews aboard active fishing vessels, conducting onboard sampling, processing biological data, and recording critical information that informs fishery management and conservation decisions.

A commercial fishing vessel pulls in a large net from the water, with crew members in orange rain gear working on deck. The net stretches wide across the water’s surface, and a city skyline rises in the background under a cloudy sky.

Puget Sound seiner – Photo Credit: WDFW

What to Expect:

Among the varied range of responsibilities held within these roles, the Commercial Fishery Observers will,

• Board commercial fishing vessels while underway via vessel-to-vessel transfers or at the dock prior to departure.
• Interact professionally with commercial fishing crews and captains. 
• Use paper and/or electronic sampling to accurately record data on catch, by-catch, and vessel effort data.
• Conduct vessel to vessel interviews gathering catch and set data.
• Identify salmon and other marine fish by species, record marked status of all salmon.
• Observe and record seabird and marine mammal interaction/encounters with fishing gear. 
• Participate as research vessel deck crew by handling lines, assisting in vessel maintenance, loading gear, launch/retrieval, and following vessel operators’ instructions. 
• Work with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Access) to assist in data archiving of previous years’ sampling efforts.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

Work Setting, including hazards:

• Sample on a working commercial fishing vessel, transferring safely from research vessel to a fishing vessel while vessels are underway. Exposure to rough seas and inclement weather conditions with rain/wind. 
• This position involves working in, on or near water, including tasks that require navigating, negotiating and performing duties related to water environments, and slippery docks. Personal flotation devices (PFD) are required to be worn when working on the docks or on the water. 
• Some research boats do not have bathroom facilities (heads), but a marine grade portable toilet will be available, or it is possible to dock and use shoreside facilities.

Schedule:

This is an on-call position with hours assigned as needed; there is no guaranteed minimum. Work may be scheduled for up to seven (7) days per week, with shifts potentially exceeding 12 hours in a single day. Schedules will vary based on organizational needs and staff availability. Must be able to respond on short notice and be available to work evenings, weekends, and holidays.