Fish Culturist II

Yakima Klickitat Fisheries Project (YKFP)

Department of Natural Resources

Hourly Wage: $15.43/Regular/Full-Time

Location: Prosser

Provide support to the Hatchery Manager and work unit in the operation and maintenance of fish hatcheries. Perform a variety of duties involved in hatchery production, assisting in manual and technical work. Care for fish and facilities as scheduled.

Examples of Work Performed:

• Remove eggs from fish; weigh and sort eggs, attend to egg and fry in incubators and transfer fry from troughs to ponds; prepare food and feed fish; net and mark percentage of fry before trucking to acclimation sites for release and down-stream migration.
• Detect diseases in fish and administer prescribed treatment; dissect dead, spawned out salmon to check for diseased livers and retention of eggs; take samples for disease analysis.
• Trap and select adult salmon for use as brood stock.
• Operate an eying or egg taking station as sub-unit of regular hatchery.
• Maintain fish propagation records such as pond loss, weight and size gains, medications, diets and water temperature.
• Clean ponds, troughs, trays, screens and racks, mend nets and traps; mow lawns; repair and paint buildings and equipment; operate various mechanical equipment such as pumps, grinders, power mowers, fork lift and light automotive equipment.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledge of various species of fish; common fish diseases and usual treatment; habits of fish; care and propagation of fish; methods, equipment and supplies used in maintenance of buildings and grounds.
• Ability to operate and maintain machinery and equipment used in hatchery operations; direct and work with other employees; understand and carry out written and oral instructions; maintain simple records.

General Recruiting Indicators:

• Minimum of a high school diploma or equivalent and two years of fish hatchery experience.

Special Requirements:

• Required to pass a pre-employment drug and alcohol test.
• Required to pass a pre-employment background check.
• Must possess a valid Washington State Driver's License and have the ability to obtain a Yakama Nation Tribal Driving Permit.
• Yakama enrolled preference.