Coastwise Consulting Inc. is seeking to subcontract qualified individuals to monitor impacts to protected species during marine construction projects on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts.

Qualified individuals will generally have a B.S. in Marine Biology, Ecology, or a related field, and experience with sea turtles, marine mammals, manatee and/or sturgeon. Specialized or extensive experience with these species may be substituted in lieu of educational experience.

Most projects involve two observers living and working onboard ships for periods of 20 – 30 days, although this can vary depending on individual preference. Typically, two observers work 12-hours each to provide 24-hour monitoring. Accommodations on many of these vessels are quite comfortable.

Observers must have the ability to interact with ship and construction crews in a friendly and professional manner, physically inspect equipment that may require walking, bending, climbing, crawling, and sometimes lifting 20-50 pounds. Observers must be able to identify various species of sea turtles, marine mammals and sturgeon, complete by-catch analyses of various species of marine life using field guides, and record and report all findings in a clear and detailed way.

Requirements:

• Must reside and be legally able to work in the United States
• Must be able to obtain a TWIC card for job site access
• Must be in good physical condition and able to stand, walk, bend, climb, and lift up to 50 lbs
• Must be able to identify sea turtles and marine mammals to species level
• Must have the ability to identify by-catch species using field guides
• Must work well both independently and with others
• Must possess good verbal and written communication skills
• Must be able to handle/ sample living and dead marine life
• Must have reliable transportation and/or be capable of arranging travel to and from job sites