Reef Fish and Shrimp Fisheries Observer

Interested in Fishery Sustainability, Management and Hands on Marine Biology Work? Become a Fisheries Observer!!

A.I.S., Inc. (AIS) is a national scientific services firm supporting maritime activities requiring certification of compliance with environmental regulations as well as collecting data for use by Federal, State, Municipal, and other government agencies along the US coastline. AIS is recruiting Reef Fish and Shrimp Fisheries Observers to work at sea collecting and recording data and biological samples for the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFCS) aboard commercial fishing vessels.

The primary goals of the governments shrimp and reef fish observer programs are to provide quantitative biological, vessel, and gear-selectivity information for the southeastern shrimp fishery and Gulf of Mexico reef fish fishery. Observers deploy on commercial shrimp and reef fish vessels operating in the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic. If you ever wanted to make a difference, this is how.

Commercial fishing dates back hundreds of years. Today commercial fishing continues to be possible due to cooperation between the fishing industry and fisheries scientists like yourself. In order to facilitate cooperation, fisheries observers collect data pertaining to fishing programs, economics, catch data, and fishing efficiency. Collected data is used to document stock information which is then used to protect the environment and preserve future generations of fish/fishermen. Commit to the journey!

Click to Learn More about Becoming a Fisheries Observer

Observers’ record detailed information on the gear and fishing activity of the vessels. Observers work on deck on vessels ranging from 30’ to 90’ on trips roughly ranging from 1 to 45 days collecting data on fish catch and bycatch, and incidental takes such as marine mammals, seabirds and marine turtles. After attending a 3-week paid training in-person training in Galveston, TX observers are deployed from ports throughout the Gulf of Mexico and southern Atlantic states. Gear types assessed include but are not limited to shrimp trawl, bottom longline, modified buoy gear, bandit reel, and handline. Training is scheduled for 10/19/2026 through 11/6/2026.

Accommodations and meal reimbursement during in person session of training are provided. Training includes instructions on sampling protocols, gear, fisheries, fish identification, marine mammal/sea turtle identification, and safety.

This is a challenging job, and candidates must be mentally prepared to be away from home without access to internet or cellular telephone signal for multiple days and often weeks at a time. Candidates must be physically able to handle heavy lifting, working odd hours, and spending long days in rough seas. Many crews speak limited English compounding the effects of loneliness and isolation on long trips. Observing provides an excellent career in marine biology, as observers are widely recognized as being excellent field biologists. A broad range of advancement opportunities are available to those who demonstrate appropriate capabilities. Those opportunities include, but are not limited to, project management, field supervisors, and fieldwork in other programs.

Compensation: Observers’ starting pay is $19.33/hour. Dependent on enrollment in our H&W benefit, observers may also be eligible for an additional $4.57/hour for the first 40 hours worked on each calendar week for a total of $23.90 hour. This is a full–time position with benefits. Annually, observers earn between $35K - $55K a year dependent on their availability to deploy offshore and their personal sea day accomplishments. Observers will be paid a minimum of 8 hours for each calendar day offshore and are also eligible for additional compensable activities while on land.

AIS benefits package includes health and dental insurance, vacation, sick and holiday benefits. Potential additional compensation consists of Data quality bonuses, Service awards, Fitness center reimbursement, Candidate Referral bonus.

Travel is reimbursed in accordance with federal travel guidelines at an hourly rate along with compensation for miles accrued on a personal vehicle as well as per diem at the specified Government rate.

Minimum Qualifications:

• A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a major in one of the natural sciences and a minimum of 30 semester hours or equivalent in the biological sciences
• At least one undergraduate course in math or statistics.
• All relevant course work must have been performed at a level acceptable for credit at the candidate’s academic institution.
• Experience with data entry on computers.
• Observer candidates must be U.S. citizens, or be legally authorized to work in the U.S.
• Candidates must be physically able, as determined by a licensed physician’s certification to perform observer duties.
• Your own transportation is required.

Preferred Qualifications:

• At-sea experience
• The ability to work independently and live in close quarters with little to no communication for purposes other than safety status check-ins for up to 8 weeks. (phone, internet, email and other amenities are unavailable at-sea)
• Coursework with dichotomous keys

Homeport:

Applicants must be currently living, or be willing to live within 50 miles of the New Orleans, LA

Contact:

If you would like to apply for one of these exciting new openings, please click the following link Careers Page to submit the following information.

• Resume
• Cover Letter detailing sea and fish experience.
• 3 to 5 academic/professional references (name, email address and phone number)
• Unofficial copies of your college (or high school if applicable) transcripts.

All documents must be submitted for your application to be considered. If you have any questions pertaining to this opening, please feel free to reach out to the Talent Team or 774-770-5833

An Equal Opportunity Employer

It is the policy of A.I.S. to recruit, hire, train, promote, transfer and compensate our employees and provide all other conditions of employment including Company sponsored events without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, lawful alien status, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, citizenship status, veteran status or any other status protected by applicable law.

Must be able to work in the U.S. • VEVRAA Federal Contractor • Request Priority Protected Veteran Referrals • Equal Opportunity Employer