Frank Orth & Associates (FOA) is now accepting applications for qualified Fishery Observers to participate in the California/Oregon Drift Gillnet Observer Program, the California Longline Observer Program, Purseseine and Albacore Observer Program. FOA is under contract with the National Marine Fisheries Service Southwest Region (NMFS) to provide biologists serving as observers on board vessels participating in the Pacific Drift Gillnet and Longline Fishery off the California and Oregon coasts.

We will hire 5-10 observers for this program. The positions require up to a seven-month commitment, starting in September, to serve as observers aboard vessels targeting Broadbill Swordfish and Thresher Sharks. The position requires working and living aboard commercial fishing vessels 40-100 ft in length for 6 to 40 days at a time and travel to a variety of ports in California and Oregon. The positions are highly competitive.

Sampling duties include: identification and sampling of marine mammals, sharks, and sea turtles, identification and tallying of catch, taking lengths of swordfish and sharks, and maintaining marine mammal sighting records. Training is administered by the National Marine Fisheries Service in Long Beach, CA and lasts two weeks.