Fisheries Technician 1 - Trailer Assistant

Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission is recruiting candidates to the fill the role of Fisheries Technician 1 - Tagging Trailer Assistant position located at the California Department of Fish and Wildlife office in Red Bluff, CA.

Position/Project Specifics:

The Trailer Assistant conducts the manual adipose fin-clipping and coded-wire tagging on juvenile salmon and steelhead. Some of the fish on the early projects will also receive a ventral clip. The majority of the work is done with an automated fish-marking trailer and the Trailer Assistant is responsible for the operation of the manual section of the trailer. The majority of the fish are clipped or tagged with the automated lines and any fish that are too small or too large to do with the automated lines are processed in the manual section. There are also a small percentage that get rejected on the automated lines that are also processed in the manual section of the AutoFish Trailer. Information and videos of the AutoFish Trailers can be found on Northwest Marine Technologies website. The Trailer Assistant also helps the Trailer Operator with various tasks such as crowding or bucketing fish, changing outflow discharge pipe, AutoFish Trailer disinfection, etc. The work is done at five or more different anadromous hatcheries throughout Northern California. Significant travel is required with this position. There are full time/full year benefited positions available for candidates that excel in this work environment. Anticipated start date is February 17th. No housing in provided.

Essential Functions: 

Support captive fish-rearing activities including spawning, incubating, feeding, sampling, sorting, handling, medicating, anesthetizing, and transporting fish. Monitor the status of facility systems and equipment. Assist in the development, fabrication, construction, and maintenance of systems.

Make regular facility inspections including, for example, dewatering equipment, pumps, flumes, gates, tanks, screens, filters, gatewells, and/or tag interrogation equipment. Monitor and maintain water quality levels. Record findings and adjustments made. Respond appropriately and immediately to emergencies. 

 Knowledge Required by the Position

• Knowledge of fishery biology (including knowledge of particular species of fish).
• Knowledge of fish husbandry.
• Knowledge of personal computer applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, e-mail, publishing software, presentation software, database software, topographic software, bibliographic software, and statistical analysis packages.

 Additional Mandatory Skills: 

• elec. detection technology
• lift 40-50 lbs.
• valid driver's license
• tow & maneuver trailers
• fish species ID skills
• compile and collect neat and accurate data
• specific software skills (spreadsheet, word processing, database, GIS, statistical)
• oral communication skills
• written communication skills
• repair & maintain equipment

Physical Demands:

Demands can range from sedentary, to moderate --where there is walking, climbing stairs and ladders, reaching, lifting, and bending, to rigorous. In the latter case, the employee must be able to handle buckets of water or gear weighing up to 50 pounds. Long daily periods of hiking, carrying equipment, swimming, and/or standing may be required.

Work Environment:

Some work is performed in an office setting with adequate lighting, heating, and ventilation. Some work may be performed in fish processing labs, fish holding areas, and/or in the field. Employees may work on narrow, elevated walkways and platforms that are over or adjacent to water.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualification Requirements:

A range of experience and education may be presented.  At the lower end of the range, candidates must present six months of General Experience* OR one year of education above the high school level that included at least six semester hours in any combination of scientific or technical courses. 

An equivalent combination of experience and education is also qualifying.

At the upper end of the range, candidates must present one year of Specialized Experience** OR a 4-year course of study above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with a major or at least 24 semester hours of coursework in any combination of scientific or technical courses.  An equivalent combination of experience and education is also qualifying.

*General Experience is (1) any type of work that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work of the position or (2) experience that provides a familiarity with biological sciences or the processes of the biological sciences.

**Specialized Experience is experience that equips the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position and is typically in or related to the work of the position being filled

Location

CDFW Red Bluff

Project Length

5 months or less

Position Type

Temporary

Travel Requirements

50% - 75%

Benefits

Employees accrue sick time at a rate of 0.047/hour with a maximum of 96 hours per year. Employees also receive 12 paid holidays each year, paid time for jury duty and bereavement leave.

Driving

State Vehicle - Valid driver's license required. Offers of employment contingent upon passing driving records check.

Salary Target

$15.44-$25.20/hr

Closing Date

Jan 24, 2026