Summary:
We are currently looking to hire 2 field staff members to conduct interviews with commercial, charter, and sport fishermen on the Oregon coast. This work is in support of the Marine Fisheries Uses and Values project. This project is a unique opportunity to bring fishermen's knowledge directly to bear on marine planning processes. By asking fishermen to share their knowledge of their fishing grounds and giving them a forum in which to express their values, the project engages stakeholders, provides better information to the planning process, and integrates the human dimension into marine spatial planning. The goal is to compile a comprehensive map of the commercial and recreational fishing use patterns along the Oregon coast from Brookings to Astoria using the expert knowledge of fishermen. This kind of spatially explicit information on commercial and recreational fisheries and their value to fishermen has the potential to ensure representation of socioeconomic values in the design and implementation of a spatially explicit designation of special use areas, specifically for wave energy facility development for incorporation into the Oregon Territorial Sea Plan (TSP). The results of this project will considerably improve on currently available data.
After introductory meetings have been conducted with representatives of the fishing community, and a survey designed, field staff will begin contacting fishermen to set up interviews. Interviews will be conducted using one-on-one or small group formats. Field staff will use Open OceanMap (Desktop GIS application) to collect shapes representing participants’ fishing grounds and other non-spatial attributes, including demographics, basic operations (gear types, crew size/composition, operating costs and revenues), and other descriptive characteristics. Field staff will be trained in field methods, data preparation, quality control, and some analysis. Field staff members are expected to live full time on the Oregon Coast; moving from port-to-port during the entire field season (approximately ending in April/May 2010). Housing, travel, and meal expenses will be reimbursed. Teams of two are encouraged to apply together as the field staff will be working as a team for the entire field season.
We are looking for candidates who:
- Have a flexible schedule, are willing to travel, and able to or currently live full-time on the Oregon Coast (i.e., Florence, Newport, Astoria);
- Are able to work independently in the field and are resourceful in contacting and encouraging fishermen to interview
- Have an outgoing personality, a friendly and professional attitude, and experience or interest in interview-based research;
- Are familiar with basic GIS operations using Arcview, ArcMap, QGIS; and
- Are organized and detail oriented to ensure data are delivered and tracked accurately
Spanish, Vietnamese, or other language skills a plus.
