Individual Placement - Fisheries Management at The Student Conservation Association

Position Summary 

Assist in critical management activities including stock assessment, acoustic tagging study, active restoration, and other related research for sea run fishes. The first three months will be primarily field and lab work, with final two month more inside preparing field samples (scales) reading scales and dealing with data and data summaries from spring field work and the acoustic tagging study.

Schedule 

April 6, 2026 - August 30, 2026

Key Duties and Responsibilities 

April through mid-June work will involve boat electrofishing for river herring assessments in river (gear prep, netting of fish, fish processing in field, data recording) and laboratory work with sub-sampled river herring (fish dissection for ear bones and scales) for structure to age and determining spawning history. Lab processed fish scales will be cleaned and mounted on slides for reading.

An acoustic tagging study with adult Blueback Herring will also be conducted April through July (recovery of receivers). Member will rotate with staff among competing activities with other staff, partners, and volunteers. Some trap and transfer of fishes, using 900 gallon tank truck, for restoration or for cooperating researchers will occur throughout May - June, that member typically operate independently. Some limited effort on fish health tissue sampling (shad herring) will occur as well as assistance with researchers we are cooperating with for their studies (UMASS Juvenile River Herring Recruitment).

Marginal Duties 

Other fieldwork will include Sea Lamprey nest counts in late June and July. July and August work will include completing scale cleaning and mounting and the start of scale reading for spawning marks with more limited time spend in any field related work.

Required Qualifications 

Good eye hand coordination (netting), attention to detail (data records, lab processing) and physical ability to work on boats is required.

This SCA Position is authorized under the Public Land Corps Authority. All participants must be between the ages of 16 and 30, inclusive, or veterans aged 35 or younger, at the start of the position. Participants must also be a citizen or national of the United States or lawful permanent resident alien of the United States. Hours served can be applied toward the Public Land Corps (PLC) hiring authority.

Preferred Qualifications 

Familiarity with fish dissecting, scale cleaning, prep and reading for spawning history and field sampling. Trainings will be provided for all activities, experience is not required.

Hours 

40 per week

Living Accommodations 

Local, commuting (no housing is available).

Compensation  

Living Allowance - $680/week

All allowances are subject to applicable federal, state, and local taxes. 

Personal Vehicle Information

Recommended

Additional Benefits 

AmeriCorps: Not Eligible

Equal Opportunity Statement 

The Student Conservation Association, Inc., is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The SCA strives to cultivate a work environment that encourages fairness, teamwork, and respect among all staff members and is committed to maintaining a work atmosphere where lifestyles may grow personally and professionally.

 Physical requirements and working conditions specific to the position are available in the full job description.