Title- Recreational Creel and Commercial Fishery Surveyor
Classification- Scientific Technician 2
Job Status- Full-Time - Career Seasonal
Season Length- 10 months – March 1 – December 31
For the 2026 season, this position is anticipated to begin March 1, 2026
WDFW Program- Fish Program
Duty Station- Ridgefield, Washington – Clark County

Learn more about being a member of Team WDFW!

Dive into a dynamic role offering hands-on experience across a variety of fisheries fieldwork.

With your fisheries knowledge and customer service skills, you will work in walk-in areas of rivers, interviewing active anglers, collecting and sampling for data.

Join field crews to carry out biological sampling on commercial catch as well as navigate the Lower Columbia River on foot or by boat to conduct salmonid spawning ground surveys.

What to Expect-
Among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, the Recreational Creel and Spawning Ground Surveyor will, 

Conduct Recreational Angler Creel Surveys in the mainstem Lower Columbia River and Tributaries:

• Interview individual anglers and groups to collect information related to hours fished, number of fish harvested or released, natural versus hatchery origin, gear type employed, hooking location, and all other pertinent biological and tag sampling information required.
• Complete effort counts according to schedules and times.
• Perform counts of fish, collect coded wire tag (CWT) and passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags, scales, and other biological data
• Implement and support electronic data capture using updated hardware, including iPad minis, tablets, or other handheld electronic devices.
• Review and download data into agency databases.
• Query snout inventory for all fishery projects and deliver snouts to laboratories for processing.

Conduct Treaty and Non-Treaty Commercial Sampling and Non-Treaty Commercial Fishery Observation:

• Travel to canneries, tribal in-lieu sites, and fish buyer facilities and lead and participate on crews to conduct biological sampling on commercial landed catch which includes collecting CWT and PIT Tags, DNA samples, scales and other biological data.
• Assist with on-board commercial fishery observations which may involve boat to boat transfers while on the water.
• Maintain the quality of data collected and monitor snout collection inventory.  Communicate with both Washington and Oregon state staff regarding data and sample transfers. 
• Monitor marine mammals interacting with commercial fishery gears

Conduct Spawning Ground Surveys and Hatchery Broodstock and Surplus Sampling:

• Conduct adult salmonid spawning ground surveys by boat or by foot on the Lower Columbia River and its tributaries. Identify and enumerate adult salmonids (live and dead) and redds. Use GPS devices to mark redd locations and apply tags to carcasses for mark/recapture programs
• Sample carcasses collected on spawning grounds for length, sex, CWT and PIT tags, and spawning success
• Travel to hatchery locations to collect biological samples from broodstock and surplus fish using established protocols.
• Assist other projects on spawning ground surveys through the region as needed.

Working Conditions: 

Work setting, including hazards: 

• Approximately 90% of the time this position is in a non-office, field environment. The remaining 10% of work time is in an office or laboratory setting. 
• While working outdoors you may be exposed to inclement weather and often need to navigate wet slippery surfaces.
• Lift, either with or without assistance, large, live and deceased fish, typically up to 30 lbs and rarely over 100 lbs. 
• Repetitively carry loads up to 70 pounds for short distances over rough terrain. 
• Conduct spawning ground surveys which may include walking up to six (6) miles per day over rough terrain, handling fish with strong odors, under adverse weather conditions and climbing in and out of motorized and non-motorized boats.
• Operate 17-22 foot jet powered vessels in river conditions which may include fast moving, shallow water.
• Accurately record repetitive data under adverse environmental conditions for long periods of time.
• This position may involve working in or near water, including tasks that require navigating, negotiating, and performing duties related to water environments.

Schedule: 24/7 non-scheduled, working 40 hours per week. Work hours may be assigned at any time within a 24-hour period and shifts are not fixed, varying based on operational needs. May include some nights, weekends, and occasional holidays.

Travel Requirements: Most of the duties are conducted in the field away from the duty station, requiring daily travel from the duty station to and from field locations is required with a departmental issued vehicle (or personal vehicle as needed/if department vehicle unavailable) Overnight travel may be required.

Tools and Equipment: Basic hand and carpentry tools, winches, pulleys and blocks, motorized and non-motorized watercraft (including the ability to tow), 4x4 vehicles, 200’ beach seines, passive integrated transponder (PIT) tag injectors, PIT tag readers, coded wire tag (CWT) detectors, GPS units, weighing scales, snout knife, hemostats, mobile digital data collection devices, and agency computers.

Customer Interactions: Interacting with other departmental personnel, personnel from other agencies, commercial fishers and the public.

Qualifications:

Required Qualifications: 

Option 1: 

Graduation from high school or GED, including one (1) year of high school science. 
And
Two (2) years of experience as a Scientific Technician 1.

Option 2: 

Graduation from high school or GED including one (1) year of high school science. 
And
Two (2) years of laboratory or field experience as an assistant to a biologist, chemist, or zoologist.

Please Note: College course work involving major study in biology, zoology, fisheries, chemistry, natural sciences, or closely allied field will substitute, year for year for experience, provided the course work includes at least six (6) semester or nine (9) quarter hours of natural science classes.

Certifications/Licenses:
Valid Driver’s License.

Preferred Qualifications:
In addition to the required qualifications, our ideal applicant will possess one or more of the following:

One (1) year or more of professional experience in/with: 

• Identifying salmonids and other fish species in adult life stage.
• Identifying salmonid redds.
• Fish marking and tagging protocols.
• Fishery monitoring, observation, and general sampling techniques.
• Sport and commercial fishing gear types and methods.
• Basic operations of motorized vessels.
• Microsoft Office Suite (such as Word, Excel, Access, Outlook).
• Operating Coded Wire Tagging (CWT) and Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) tagging.
• Operating handheld GPS and data devices.
• Motorboat Operations Certification Course training.
• Operating jet boats on the Columbia River and its tributaries.
• Basic CPR/First Aid.

Your application must include the following:

• A completed online application showcasing how your qualifications align with the job requirements.
• An up-to-date resume. 
• A cover letter detailing your interest in the position, your relevant skills and experience, and why you are the ideal candidate.
• At least three professional references with current contact information.

Supplemental Information

In addition to pay and other special employee programs, there are other benefits that WDFW employees may be eligible for. Click the “Benefits” tab at the top of this announcement to learn more.

Important Note: 

All new employees must complete an Employment Eligibility Verification Form (I-9 Form) on their first day of work. If hired for this or any position at WDFW, you will be required to provide documentation proving you are eligible to work in the United States. For a list of acceptable documents, please use the following link:  https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents

Union - WAFWP:

This position is in the bargaining unit represented by the Washington Association of Fish & Wildlife Professionals and is subject to the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the State of Washington, Department of Fish & Wildlife, and the Washington Association of Fish & Wildlife Professionals.

Veteran and Military Spouse Preference Notice: 

Per RCW 73.16.010 Veterans and qualifying spouses who meet the minimum qualifications of a position are eligible for preference during the initial application review stage. To receive this benefit, please do the following: 

• Notify us of your veteran or military spouse status by email at Elizabeth.Bullard@dfw.wa.gov.  
• Veterans only – Attach a copy of your DD214 (Member 4 copy), NGB 22 or USDVA signed verification of service letter.
  • Please redact any PII (personally identifiable information) data such as social security numbers.
• Subject line must include recruitment number, position, and spouse/veteran (example: 2024-1234 – Biologist 1 – Veteran)
• Include your name as it appears on your application in careers.wa.gov.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Employer

As part of WDFW’s efforts to advance respectful and inclusive work environments, the Agency expects inclusivity as part of our professional interactions and communications.  Therefore, we want to ensure that all individuals feel welcome, are treated fairly and respectfully.  All staff are empowered to fully contribute to serving their work unit, Agency, and the citizens of Washington.

The Department of Fish and Wildlife is an equal opportunity employer.  We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, racial, ethnic, sexual orientation and gender identity diversity.  Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons of disability, persons over 40 years of age, disabled and Vietnam era veterans and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply.

Request an accommodation: Persons needing accommodation in the application process or this announcement in an alternative format please contact Jayme Chase by phone 360-902-2278 or email Jayme.Chase@dfw.wa.gov, or the Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) at 800-833-6388.

Technical Difficulties: If you are having technical difficulties creating, accessing, or completing your application, please call NEOGOV toll-free at (855) 524-5627 or support@neogov.com. 

Other questions: If you have other questions regarding this position, please reach out to Elizabeth.Bullard@dfw.wa.gov and reference job #2025-09104.

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