The Terrace Salmonid Enhancement Society requires Fisheries Research Technicians to help conduct a Chinook salmon mark-recapture project from mid-August until early October. The project produces coded-wire tagged fish that are sampled in an International Mark Recovery Program, which provides data that is essential to measuring exploitation rates.
Kitsumkalum Chinook are renowned for boasting some of the largest Chinook in North America. Historically these fish have been known to reach up to 100 lbs in size, and although size at maturity is decreasing for this population, is it still not uncommon to capture fish 70+ lbs to this day.
This project brings technicians to the Kitsumkalum River to capture, handle, and tag these fish to allow population size estimates for both the Kalum and the entire Skeena to be calculated. Fish will also be collected for broodstock allowing us to produce the coded-wire tagged offspring.
Technicians will generally be on the water Monday through Saturday where we will be using jet boats to capture fish via drift netting. Each fish will then need to be removed from the net and handled appropriately as tags and/or samples are taken. This project offers a unique opportunity to observe and handle the world's largest salmon, as well as contribute to valuable research essential to the monitoring and conservation of this species.
Successful candidates must have or be willing to obtain a current Swiftwater Rescue Technician (SRT 1) certification (or equivalent).
Assets include:
- Post-secondary education in fisheries or related field
- Experience working in and around jet boats on river systems
- Level 1 first aid
- Experience conducting fisheries sampling techniques
- Physically fit and able to handle large fish (up to ~80lbs)
- Proficient salmonid identification skills
- Comfortable wading in rivers and maneuvering through rugged terrain
- Valid drivers' license and possession of a vehicle
Job Type: Seasonal
Contract length: 2 months
Pay: $1,100.00 per week
Benefits:
Flexible language requirement:
Work Location: In person
