Overview

Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) is seeking applicants for the position of Shoreside Port Sampler to support the collection of biological data and fisheries statistics to inform state and federal management of the Atlantic Menhaden purse-seine fishery in Virginia. This grant-funded, full-time position will work in conjunction with the Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC), Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistics Program (ACCSP), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC), and the Atlantic States Fisheries Management Commission (ASFMC). The position will be field-based and expected to report to work in Reedville, VA with regular visits to Weems, VA during the normal commercial fishing season, (May through December) for Atlantic Menhaden; regular visits to Richmond will be required to meet with the Supervisor. During the off-season months, the Shoreside Port Sampler will be expected to manage, sort and upload the acquired data collected during the field season as well as facilitate the potential digitization of daily logs collected by vessel captains.

All full-time university staff are eligible for VCU’s robust benefits package that includes: comprehensive health benefits, paid annual and holiday leave granted up front, generous tuition benefit, retirement planning and savings options, tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs, employee discounts, well-being resources, abundant opportunities for career development and advancement, and more. Learn more about VCU’s benefits here.

Typical Duties

While representing Virginia Commonwealth University, the Shoreside Port Sampler will collect biological and catch-per-unit-effort data from the purse seine commercial reduction and bait harvest sectors of Atlantic Menhaden (Brevoortia tyrannus) during normal commercial fishing season (May through November). The Atlantic States Fisheries Management Commission (ASFMC) is responsible for managing commercial harvest of Atlantic Menhaden and requires ongoing biological and fisheries data to inform the Atlantic Menhaden stock status studies and biomass health. Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC), Division of Fisheries Management is responsible for marine fisheries resource management in the Commonwealth of Virginia including stocks of Atlantic Menhaden in the Chesapeake Bay. 

Following the methods as outlined in the NOAA NMFS Instructions for Menhaden Sampling Program (Revised July 2023) the Shoreside Port Sampler will collect mission-critical data related to offloading activities of commercial fishing vessels in Reedville and Weems, Virginia. The Shoreside Port Sampler will observe and report catch results, obtain copies of the Captains Daily Fishing Report (CDFR), collect and catalog biological samples (scales and otoliths), and prepare those samples for shipment on a required weekly basis. The Shoreside Port Sampler will enter and validate the Atlantic Menhaden CDFRs for both the bait and reduction fisheries; code, scan, and upload to secure cloud storage for quota monitoring. The NMFS protocol for the purse seine fishery includes:

1. For the reduction fishery, a minimum of 300 random samples per year with a goal of 15 samples per week (min of 10).  Each Sample is 20 fish collected from the hold from the last school caught on the trip.
2. For the reduction fishery, sampling will occur daily during the season which typically begins in early May and runs through December.  
3. For the bait fishery, samples will include an additional 74 random samples with the same criteria (based on Virginia’s sector allocation in Chapter 4 VAC 20-1270-10) from the ports of Weems and Reedville, VA. 

Every two weeks, the incumbent will be expected to mail the weekly collected samples to the NOAA Beaufort Lab and the VCU Rice Rivers Center for processing and analysis. 

The Shoreside Port Sampler will be required to work in industrial fish, landing, processing and offloading facilities with extensive time on docks/piers and must be comfortable with handling harvested fish, walking on uneven terrain and climbing on/off vessels. The position may require working after normal business hours and on weekends (not to exceed 40 hours per week) to ensure the adequate collection of samples and/or weekly reporting is delivered consistently and reliably.

The VCU Rice Rivers Center is an academic research campus of Virginia Commonwealth University located on the James River in Charles City County. The Center conducts extensive fisheries-related research, with a focus on migratory species and the effects of non-native fishes on riverine and estuarine systems.

Minimum Qualifications

• Experience collecting biological sampling data efficiently and effectively 
• Demonstrated experience in accurately identifying fish species
• Experience in fisheries field data collection
• Experience in proper handling of biological samples such as scales or fish tissue
• Experience processing and cataloging field data 
• Ability to report daily to Reedville
• Ability to work remotely and independently while maintaining open communication with fisheries managers and supervisors
• Strict adherence to confidentiality of proprietary ownership of fisheries data
• Technical experience in Excel, Access or other data base management systems 
• Demonstrated ability to communicate with and build rapport with fisheries managers, industry representatives, vessel crew and fish plant operators
• Candidate MUST be comfortable approaching and speaking with the public while representing the highest standards of decorum of Virginia Commonwealth University
• Demonstrated experience working in and fostering an environment of respect, professionalism and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from various backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a staff member at VCU
• Valid Driver’s license
• Access to a personal vehicle
• Willing to travel a reasonable distance within coastal Virginia (including the Eastern Shore)
• Willing to work weekdays, weekends, and some holidays as needed in variable weather conditions

Preferred Qualifications

Preference may be given to applicants with:

1. BS degree in natural resources management, fisheries science, or related discipline
2. Experience in operating and towing small vessels (less than 30 feet in length)

Application Process

If interested in applying for this position, visit VCU Career Site.