Fish Culture Specialist 1

THE OUTSIDE IS IN US ALL.

Please remember to attach the required documents, Cover Letter and Resume . Applications missing the requested documents will be considered incomplete and may not progress further in the process. Documents not requested will not be considered in the recruitment process. The State Application is not a substitute for a resume. This position closes at 11: 59 pm Mountain time on March 28th, 2024. You must apply through the State of Montana Career Site.

Special Information:

The primary mission of the Murray Springs Trout Hatchery is to manage and maintain Montanas Gerrard rainbow trout broodstock. Gerrard rainbow trout are known to be evolutionarily specialized resulting in older age at maturity, a long lifespan, a large mouth, piscivorous, and the capacity for rapid and sustained growth. Depending upon fisheries management goals, the hatchery also produces and stocks approximately 130,000 fish into regional waters for recreational fishing opportunities. Depending on egg availability, the hatchery also raises and stocks Columbia River Basin redband rainbow trout (Montanas only native rainbow trout). The hatchery has a comprehensive public outreach program.

The hatchery is located nine miles northwest of Eureka, Montana, and less than one-quarter mile from Lake Koocanusa. The hatchery is approximately 75 miles from Glacier National Park, and 65 miles from the communities of Kalispell and Whitefish.

To learn more about the hatchery please visit: https://fwp.mt.gov/

To learn more about Eureka, MT please visit: https://www.eureka-mt.gov/

The incumbent of the position will need:

• Basic knowledge of fish biology and fish culture.

• Good speaking and writing skills, and good computer skills with the ability to use Microsoft Office software.

• Math skills, including use of statistics and algebra.

• Ability to handle the physical demands of the job (capable of lifting and carrying 50-pound objects numerous times daily and working outdoors in all kinds of weather). Must be willing to work flexible hours and work-related travel.

• Basic vocational skills in repair and maintenance or have the ability to learn them without extensive training.

• Ability to work without constant supervision.

• Common sense and good observation skills.

• Accountability and responsibility for their decisions.

• Patience, politeness, and accommodating to the public.

• Must be a team player.

• Flexibility and adaptability to new and unique situations.

• Ability to communicate clearly and organize thoughts.

State housing is provided at the hatchery and employees are required to live there. The employee will perform fish and water supply protection duty after hours and work weekends and holidays in rotation with other employees living in state housing. This typically results in working one weekend out of every three weekends.

Job Duties:

Fish Spawning, Production, and Distribution

Duties include:

• Daily fish culture activities for cold water species.

• All stages of spawning techniques including:

o Identifying, selecting, and collecting mature and genetically appropriate fish from broodstocks.

o Properly stripping and collecting fish gametes.

o Egg fertilization proper care and incubation of eggs and fry.

o Active approach to achieving high egg, fry, and fish survival selecting appropriate equipment.

o Conducting sample counts and enumeration.

o Calculating and administering chemical treatments.

o Calculating flow rates.

o Maintaining a hygienic environment in rearing incubators.

• Collect, receive, disinfect, enumerate, chemically treat, and incubate fish eggs.

• Monitor and estimate hatching and swim-up survival.

• Perform tasks associated with feeding multiple lots of fish (feeding, monitoring feed intake and waste, and adjusting feeding rates). Provide a non-stressful rearing environment (cleaning, monitoring, and adjusting flows, and monitoring gas levels).

• Observes, reports, and alleviates fish health problems (recognizes signs and symptoms, identifies probable pathogens through necropsy, calculates and administers therapeutic treatments).

• Maintains the proper carrying capacity of rearing units (samples, transfers, inventories fish lots).

• Evaluates fish culture techniques by researching scientific publications, attending workshops, and conducting experiments.

• Loads fish into trucks utilizing several types of inventory methods, operates multiple types of delivery trucks and equipment, monitors fish health en route adjusting as necessary, and releases fish into various waters throughout the state via trucks, backpack, and helicopter plants.

• Understanding the proper use of hatchery equipment and vehicles, performing routine maintenance, and ensuring no loss or damage to various hand tools, fish culture equipment, other equipment, and vehicles including electric/gas powered agitators, water heaters and chillers, air diffusers, filters, plumbing and tubing hardware, valves, ground maintenance equipment, forklifts, nets, fiberglass tanks, concrete raceways, back-up generators, water tower, air/water pumps, regenerative blowers, tagging equipment, _fish graders, fish crowders, jump screens, water quality instruments and materials, belt feeders, scales, and measuring equipment.

• Understands, monitors, maintains (where applicable), and regulates the Hatchery water control systems, and emergency generators understands and is fully capable of implementing emergency action procedures perform security duties works beyond normal hours (as needed) to complete assigned tasks ensures doors, trucks, and gate are closed and/or locked after business hours ensures the well-being of captive fish stocks and ensures no cross contamination of equipment, environments, and fish lots (Biosecurity).

• If living in state hatchery housing, must perform fish and water supply protection duty in rotation with other employees living on-station.

Maintenance of Hatchery Equipment and Facility

• Performs unique and skilled maintenance and repair of hatchery equipment: designs, builds, and modifies unique fish rearing and distribution equipment (packed columns, incubators, truck tanks, fish life support systems) utilizing knowledge acquired from scientific publications, other hatcheries, and experiments done at this hatchery.

• Builds and repairs rearing unit screens, fish crowders, and standpipes using carpentry skills, welding skills, and various hand tools.

• Maintains and repairs unique machinery.

• Purchases unique materials, services, and equipment by writing specifications and following state purchasing guidelines.

• Performs routine maintenance on raceways, buildings, and grounds: performs raceway preparation tasks, building maintenance tasks, and various grounds and road maintenance tasks.

Hatchery Administration and Data Recording

• Assist supervisor with data collection ( daily feed use, feed inventories, flow rates, fish lot data, other as assigned) ( all assignments and duties shall be completed with attention to detail, accuracy, focused attention, proofreading, fact checking, and in a timely manner).

• Records data or information and maintains written and computer records Reports activities, progress, and findings on projects Proficiency with a suite of computer software products including Microsoft Office, Word, Powerpoint, Excel, as well as Hatch and Godzilla Preparing charts and tables using computer software Accurately collecting, storing, organizing, and transferring raw data sheets to digital files and inputting data into computer databases Data and information storage, management, retrieval, and analysis Collecting data from fish rearing, maintenance, and production activities and identifying or observing possible biological trends to increase efficiency of fishery management Producing written or electronic summaries or reports Investigating and searching technical studies or sources, and summarizing findings.

• Helps with bill payments by filling out voucher covers for personal expenses and credit card purchases.

• May be assigned as an acting supervisor when the supervisor is away for extended periods.

Tasks Outside the Scope Of The Hatchery

Transports and release warm, cool, and cold-water fish from other hatcheries, assists with spawning operations a other hatcheries or wild spawning, involved with various public relation activities (tours, Hooked on Fishing, kid fishing days, presentations, and school activities).

Minimum Qualifications (Education and Experience):

The knowledge, skills, and abilities of this position are normally attained through combination of education and experience equivalent to a bachelor’s degree in biology, Fisheries, Aquaculture, Environmental Sciences, Zoology, Wildlife, or associated field and at least 1 year of job-related experience. Other combinations of education and experience will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

This position may require a Montana Commercial Driver’s License Type 2 Class B and the ability to safely and effectively drive and operate combination vehicles over 26,000 lbs G.V.W. This license also requires an initial drug and alcohol test and then random drug testing to maintain the CDL.

Special Requirements:

• Fingerprint check

• Background check

• Valid driver’s license