Fisheries Gear Specialist

About the role

A.I.S., Inc. (AIS) is seeking a Fisheries Gear Specialist to join the Southeast Fisheries Science Center’s Gear Monitoring Team. The role provides hands‑on technical, field and outreach support for selective fishing gear, vessel operations and compliance training for commercial fisheries.

Key responsibilities

• Construct, maintain and repair selective fishing gear, including Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) and Bycatch Reduction Devices (BRDs).
• Support research projects by evaluating modified gear in the field and on research vessels.
• Operate, trailer and maintain Mississippi Laboratory research vessels (Class A, I, II) and associated equipment.
• Conduct outreach and training workshops for commercial fishers and law‑enforcement personnel on gear use and inspection procedures.
• Perform at‑sea and dockside gear inspections, document compliance and prepare summary reports.
• Assist with emergency response efforts such as oil‑spill clean‑ups and sea‑turtle protection.
• Maintain workshop, warehouse and vessel equipment, and develop training materials using multimedia tools.

Required profile

• Minimum 2 years experience in net construction, gear repair or commercial fishing operations.
• Minimum 2 years experience operating and maintaining small vessels and marine equipment.
• Strong mechanical aptitude and ability to work in physically demanding field conditions.
• Valid certifications such as USCG 6‑Pack License, TWIC and NOAA Small Boat Program compliance.

Required skills

• Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) construction and repair
• Bycatch Reduction Devices (BRDs) construction and repair
• Small vessel operation and maintenance
• USCG 6‑Pack License
• TWIC (Transportation Worker Identification Credential)
• NOAA Small Boat Program compliance
• Trawl repair and gear diagram interpretation

What we offer

• Full‑time hourly compensation, negotiated based on experience
• Health and dental insurance, vacation, sick and holiday benefits
• Opportunities to work directly with federal and state agencies on marine conservation projects