The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission is seeking qualified applicates for the position of Recreational Angler Interviewer in New York. As a Recreational Angler Interviewer, the incumbent will conduct the field portion of the Access-Point Angler Intercept Survey (APAIS). This important research study, sponsored by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), conducts face-to-face interviews with marine recreational anglers. Recreational Angler Interviewers will travel to assigned sites to interview anglers about their fishing experiences, and collect a variety of information, and (when possible) weigh, measure, and identify fish by species name that the anglers have caught. Assigned sites can include beaches, banks, piers, docks, jetties, and access points for private, charter, and head boats, including marinas, boat ramps and other points of entry to marine waters. Recreational Angler Interviewers are responsible for completing field intercept forms with anglers at the various sites in addition to completing several other required study forms.
Specific duties include:
- Successfully complete training, including survey procedures and fish identification tests
- Follow documented APAIS survey procedures
- Travel to assigned fishing access sites to interview anglers about their fishing experiences
- Occasionally work on head boats (for-hire vessels) for at-sea data collection
- Identify key species of fish with extreme accuracy and with little aid of field materials (up to 25 or more different species; guides and training will be provided)
- Complete the survey on a tablet and submit it to the supervisor as instructe
- Serve as a primary point of contact for the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the recreational fishermen
- Answer questions and explain the importance of this federally-funded study
- Other duties as assigned