This is the third class in the Fisheries Management Series. This class develops and prepares partial and/or complete marine and fisheries plans and programs which ensure adequate populations of marine life for the commercial fishing and seafood industry, recreational fishing, and environmental protection groups. Positions in this class function as the assistant to the charge position for the collection and reporting of marine life, biological and harvest data; function in a lead worker capacity to a staff of Fisheries Management Specialists; manage fisheries statistical and technical data identification, analysis and manipulation; and direct and/or supervise sectional programs relative to contracts, computer systems, data base design and maintenance, agency regulations, and tax requirements. This class is distinguished from the Fisheries Management Specialist class by the responsibility for directing one or more programs, providing lead work direction to several specialists, and serving as assistant to the charge position. It is distinguished from the Fisheries Management Supervisor class which functions as a section charge position with supervisory responsibilities.

Complexity of Work: Performs work of considerable difficulty which involves designing and directing fisheries assessment data collection programs and reports; coordinating federally funded research grant contract receipt, monitoring, compliance and reporting; monitoring funds and controlling expenditures; designing, initiating and supervising automated statistical programs for data manipulation; and providing work direction to a staff of specialists. Duties in assessment programs include determining statistical design of species studies and designing sampling techniques) traveling to field sites in order to collect statistical and biological data by examining agency marine life catches, interviewing commercial watermen, seafood buyers, fishing pier operators and recreational fishing groups and individuals to determine catch size, location, and value, and by physically examining marine life for sex, age, health, and length; and building historical data bases, analyzing results, looking for trends, reaching logical conclusions and preparing professional summary reports. Work may include project work on large fisheries management plans; writing grants; developing formats and editing various publications for technical data, user group concerns and style; preparing written responses to public and scientific inquiries; and conducting or participating in public hearings. When functioning in a lead worker capacity, positions assign work projects, set schedules, train in techniques and sources of data collection, and review subordinates’ accomplishments for validity and reliability.

Supervision Given: Supervision is typically not a factor; however, positions provide direction to a small number of specialists which perform moderately complex technical data collection and simple biological research and inspections for regulatory compliance by assigning work projects with time restraints, providing insights on project assignments, training, and monitoring performance. Provides performance evaluation recommendations to supervisor.

Supervision Received: Receives directions from a Fisheries Management Supervisor consisting of briefings, discussions, advice and guidance on personnel matters, program goals, public hearing objectives and plan objectives. Some assistance may come from a Fisheries Management Division Assistant Chief regarding automated data processing hardware and software or highly technical biological data analysis.

Scope: Work affects the section’s federal funding and the accuracy and comprehensiveness of data used by special interest groups and individuals as a basis for making vocational, business, recreational, environmental and legislative decisions. Data also affects the increase in the recognized body of scientific knowledge relative to marine life in Virginia and east coast marine life.

Impact of Actions: Decisions made by positions in this class have serious impact on the agency’s fisheries management plans and resulting recommended legislation and legal regulations. Effective decisions made in designing and maintaining data base systems and data manipulation positively impact the technical data analysis, problem definitions, management plan solutions and technical publications. Errors in data systems could result in faulty conclusions which could result in the loss of a species for an extended period of time, decreased fisheries populations for recreational and commercial fishing, loss of economic levels of watermen or the ability to use specific fishing techniques and equipment. Poor design of data base systems could result in permanent loss of historical data or inability to use data for analysis. Publication editing errors could cause embarrassment to the agency.

Personal Contacts: Positions in this class have frequent external and internal contacts with commercial watermen, seafood buyers, recreational fishermen, environmental agencies and special interest groups, government officials, vendors, scientists and scientific computer data base managers for the purpose of educating, informing, and responding to inquiries; obtaining research data; awarding grants; coordinating research results; sending reports; and making purchases.

Knowledge: Considerable knowledge of marine science, biology, oceanography, scientific research methods, scientific data collection, statistics, project management, public administration, scientific publications and principles of communications. Considerable knowledge of commercial seafood species, harvest seasons, landing areas, business locations and markets, and the related legal framework. Some knowledge of the economic issues and concerns of the commercial watermen, seafood buyers, and sellers.

Skill: Working skill in computer operations. Some positions may need skill in operating a small boat and harvesting equipment.

Abilities: Demonstrated ability to analyze data, determine trends and make logical conclusions to develop plans for reliable scientific marine data collection; to write and edit marine life management plans; to read and understand highly technical scientific reports using appropriate manuals; to supervise automated informational systems development and hardware purchases; to provide work directions to a small technical staff; to determine marine life biological age and health; to summarize a report on a large volume of technical data; to manage contracts; to coordinate the work of diverse groups; and to make oral presentations to informal groups and at public hearings.

QUALIFICATIONS GUIDE*

Licenses or Certification: Valid Virginia driver’s license.

Education and Training: Graduation from an accredited college or university with course work in marine science, oceanography, biology, or a related field with course work in scientific research methods, statistics, computer scientific software usage, and data base management. ~

Level and Type of Experience: Progressively responsible experience related fisheries management which included contract management, sampling design, data collection, data concept and statistical analysis and marine life planning and assessment.

An equivalent combination of training and experience indicating possession of the preceding knowledge and abilities may substitute for this education and experience.

This class was redefined and re-titled in December 1988 as a result of the statewide Classification Review/Specification Update Program. This class replaces the Fisheries Management Specialist B class.

Last updated: 1/1/89