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 needs a Shellfish Researcher to support the development of NOAA Fisheries Nearshore Calculator to account for ecosystem effects of shellfish aquaculture in Puget Sound.
Primary Function
In Washington state, there are over 250 shellfish farms across over 700 sites, most of which are located in Puget Sound. A priority in Puget Sound is the conservation of nearshore habitat which makes up valuable habitat for the region’s salmonids and overlaps in some places with shellfish farming. Unfortunately, much of the nearshore habitat in Puget Sound is lost or degraded.
To help address this situation, NOAA Fisheries recently developed the Puget Sound Nearshore Habitat Conservation Calculator (Nearshore Calculator). The calculator can be used to determine how much restoration is needed to offset the impacts of nearshore development. The calculator determines changes in habitat value in a common currency that represents habitat impacts as debits, and habitat improvements as credits. Developers can then offset debits with an equivalent number of credits, avoiding further net loss of nearshore habitat.
Duties/Responsibilities
The candidate shall coordinate with the Northwest Fisheries Science Center and West Coast Region of Fisheries (Central Puget Sound Branch & Oregon/Washington Aquaculture Coordinator) to assist with the following key tasks:
- Compile and assess relevant literature to inform ecosystem effects of shellfish aquaculture.
- Conduct site visits to regional shellfish farms to gain an understanding of aquaculture practices.
- Evaluate how benefits/impacts from different aquaculture techniques affect salmon based on best available science.
- Evaluate whether the Nearshore Calculator is properly quantifying impacts to nearshore habitats.
- Develop and present recommendations of additions / adjustments to the Nearshore Calculator
- Develop instructions to NOAA Fisheries Staff regarding how these adjustments to the calculator can be incorporated for use.
Compensation: Candidates will be paid an hourly rate to be negotiated and total compensation will vary depending on candidates’ availability. This is a full–time position. AIS benefits package includes health and dental insurance, vacation, sick and holiday benefits.
Minimum Qualifications
- B.S. Degree and at least four years of academic research experience focused on fish populations, shellfish, submerged aquatic vegetation and/or nearshore habitat data./li>
- Experience with shellfish aquaculture practices and submerged aquatic vegetation (eelgrass and/or kelp)/li>
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills/li>
- Familiarity with R or ArcGIS, modeling and data analysis, and experience writing and publishing peer-reviewed articles./li>
- Familiarity with approaches and tools used by managers to value habitats.
Preferred Qualifications: M.S. Degree with 2 years of relevant experience.
Location: Seattle, WA
