Fishery Scientist
About the position Spatial Front, Inc. (SFI) is seeking a Fisheries Scientist to support the NOAA Fisheries Southeast Regional Office (SERO) in St. Petersburg, Florida. This position involves providing professional services and support to achieve a variety of goals and responsibilities for NOAA's Marine Mammal Branch (MMB) and Protected Resources Division (PRD). The work can be performed remotely, with occasional on-site meetings in St. Petersburg, FL, and site visits throughout the Southeast region. The Fisheries Scientist will play a crucial role in implementing and managing various aspects of marine mammal protection and fishery interactions, ensuring compliance with relevant regulations and contributing to the conservation of marine resources. The successful candidate will be responsible for assisting with the implementation of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). This includes preparing marine mammal sections for Section 7 consultations, conducting literature reviews, and ensuring that staff are updated on current cumulative impacts to marine mammals in the Southeast. The role also involves preparing rule packages and NEPA analyses, ensuring quality control, and assisting with data and information analyses that inform management actions such as marine mammal bycatch reduction and ecosystem restoration efforts. In addition to regulatory compliance, the Fisheries Scientist will assist with outreach activities aimed at reducing bycatch and other impacts to marine mammals in the Southeast United States. This position requires a strong understanding of marine mammal biology, fishery bycatch, and the regulatory processes involved in marine resource management. The candidate must be able to communicate effectively, work collaboratively as part of a team, and apply their knowledge to influence planning and implementation of bycatch reduction efforts.
Responsibilities
- Assist with implementing Section 7 of the ESA and Sections 117, 118, 101(a) and 102 of the MMPA, including preparing marine mammal sections for consultations and conducting literature reviews.
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- Prepare rule packages and NEPA analyses, ensuring quality control and assisting with data/information analyses that inform management actions.
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- Support the implementation of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) and the annual List of Fisheries (LOF).
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- Assist with Take Reduction Team (TRT) activities in the southeast region and improve understanding of fishery interactions in areas without a TRT.
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- Conduct outreach activities related to reducing bycatch and other impacts to marine mammals in the Southeast United States.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in marine biology, marine policy, environmental science, or a similar field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
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- 4 years of specialized knowledge in marine mammal biology and/or fishery bycatch.
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- Experience writing NEPA analyses and understanding regulatory processes, including preparing rule packages and responding to public comments.
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- Understanding of marine mammal/fishery interactions and human-caused threats to marine mammals.
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- Experience with the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), specifically Sections 101(a), 102, 117, and 118.
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- Experience with Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
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- Proficiency in conducting literature searches, gathering and analyzing information, and writing detailed reports.
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- Strong proficiency with Word, Excel, Gmail, Google Docs, Endnote, and PowerPoint, with attention to detail.
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- Ability to conduct data analysis in Excel and communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
Nice-to-haves
Benefits
- Health insurance
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- Paid holidays
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- Professional development opportunities
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- Flexible scheduling options
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- Remote work options
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