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What We Believe

Do work that matters.

We believe that our mission – to collect and provide high-quality information – is vital to the health of our oceans and fisheries.

Think big. Start small. Do it now.

To make a difference, we need to think big. Then start small – experimenting, investigating, testing. And do it now. That’s how things get done.

Be Creative. And be practical.

We strive to find new, better, more efficient ways to get things done. And while it’s sometimes tempting to go for the flashy approach, we always try to let practical lead.

Try harder.

For us, there is no “good enough.” Our clients and observers depend on us to be there 24/7 to solve problems and provide the highest quality information in the most efficient way possible.

Learn from everyone.

We get to work with all kinds of people – fishermen, observers, research scientists, data analysts, software developers, fishery managers, marine technicians, and accountants. We’ve learned that they all have important knowledge and ideas to share.

Work should be challenging, meaningful, and fun.

Our work is full of big challenges and interesting people. We love what we do and the people we work with. The combination makes our work rewarding and enjoyable.

Job Overview

Observers in the West Coast program work aboard commercial fishing boats collecting biological data on target and bycatch. They monitor marine mammal and sea bird interactions with fishing gear and, check vessel deliveries to verify species identification and weights. The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) uses this information to set fishing quotas and monitor the health of fish stocks.

Boats in the West Coast fleet range in size from 18-foot longliners to over 70-foot trawlers. Working conditions vary widely and some vessels may not have bathrooms or showers.

Observers must be flexible, resourceful, able to work long hours, and strong enough to do some heavy lifting (up to 80 pounds). The workday is determined by the vessel’s fishing schedule and NMFS sampling protocols, and can range from 5-15 hours a day. Trips last from 1 to 5 days and multiple back-to-back deployments are common.  As with all our observer jobs, we encourage — and reward — repeat contracts.

For more details on the program and observer requirements, see the summary on right or visit the official WCGOP site.

When not onboard vessels, observers live in selected ports along the West Coast of the United States, from Washington to California. Assignments may be based out of port towns such as:

• Bellingham, WA
• Westport, WA
• Astoria, OR
• Newport, OR
• Coos Bay, OR
• Brookings, OR
• Crescent City, CA
• Eureka, CA
• Fort Bragg, CA
• San Francisco CA

Observer Duties

• Provide independent catch estimates of target species and bycatch.
• Sample species composition.
• Provide fish ID and measurements.
• Collect biological samples.
• Monitor marine mammal and bird interactions.
• Document fishing activity (set times, positions, gear performance, etc.).
• Record and report all data to NMFS.
• Comply with all regulatory requirements.
• Carry out assigned special projects.

Training

Observer training is an intensive 3.5-week course offered by NMFS at various times throughout the year in Newport, OR. Candidates must pass this training to be eligible for a contract with Saltwater.

Minimum Requirements

Minimum Qualifications

General observer requirements, plus:

• Bachelors of Science in a biological science or limnology; or
• Valid NMFS certification; or
• Prior experience as a fisheries observer approved by ADF&G.
• One statistics course and one math course.
• College course using dichotomous (taxonomic) keys.
• A CPR and First Aid certification.