The position will involve assisting Fisheries Management Area 2 staff in various tasks, primarily conducting field surveys of lakes and streams throughout northwest Pennsylvania.  Fieldwork sometimes involves long hours, travel to field survey locations using Commission vehicles, occasional overnight travel (reimbursed by Commission), and at times working in inclement weather.  Some boat electrofishing surveys will be conducted at night, usually ending around 2:00 a.m.  The Area 2 office will provide the necessary fish survey and safety apparel (e.g., waders, personal flotation devices, electrofishing gloves, etc.).

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Conduct fish sampling that may include use of johnboat electrofishers, backpack electrofishers, trap nets, and other gear.
• Assist in traversing streams and small rivers with waders while collecting fish and/or while transporting sampling gear (backpack electrofisher).
• Perform field measurement of fish catch rate and other biological attributes (age, mortality) for a variety of fish species in rivers, streams and reservoirs.
• Conduct field measurement of fish habitat (RBP) and basic water quality attributes (D.O., temperature, pH, conductivity, and total alkalinity) of streams, rivers, and reservoirs in conjunction with fish sampling.
• Perform laboratory processing of fish samples that include: (1) use of a dichotomous key to identify fish specimens not identifiable under field conditions, (2) pressing scales and interpreting fish age from magnified scale impressions or magnified otolith sections.
• Observe and assist in data recording and summary associated with fish data sets and data processing associated with other statewide monitoring and planning activities.
• Enter fish sampling data into statewide agency database.
• Conduct mapping of sample locations.