Please do not contact me about this position.

Aquaculturist/Collector Position

Monterey Abalone Company is searching for a person who can perform essential duties related to two main activities: abalone farming and collection of marine specimens for research and education. The position requires a broad knowledge of the marine environment, the ability to identify marine plants, invertebrates and fish, as well as related skills such as small boat handling and SCUBA diving. Applicants must be focused on safety, organization, and be able to communicate with co-workers and customers. The ability to communicate in Spanish is a plus.

Basic computer skills such as familiarity with word processing and spreadsheets are required.

The job requires 40+ hours of work per week, and involves physically demanding work
including the ability to stand for long periods, to lift objects weighing 50 lbs or more, strongswimming skills, and the ability to work under deadlines.

Responsibilities for commercial abalone farming: overseeing a crew of workers, responsible for all abalone husbandry activities, fulfilling orders for abalone sales, maintenance of farming infrastructure and equipment, harvesting kelp for abalone feed.

Activities related to collection of specimens for research and education include: communicating with customers, knowledge/identification of specimens, species regulations, planning, organizing, and carrying out collecting trips, holding specimens in optimal condition for delivery, packing specimens for delivery.

Requirements:
 * Bachelors in Marine Biology or other related Marine Science degree, or a minimum of 2 years work experience in related ocean industry.
* Equivalent Master Diver/Dive Master or AAUS Research Diver.
 * Basic computer skills
* Experience operating small boats
* Knowledge of local flora and fauna

Compensation will vary with experience. Start Date: week of May 13th, 2013, open until filled.

Please email resume and cover letter with a brief description of why you want to work with our company to Trevor or Art. Call (831)646-0350 for more information.

Check out the details here!

As always, please do not contact me with questions about these opportunities. I'm merely the messenger.

From CA Dept of Fish and Wildlife press release:

New Analyses Can Guide Similar Planning Endeavor

California recently completed an historic overhaul of how it manages its coastal waters by revising and expanding its system of marine protected areas (MPAs). This system of MPAs is the largest scientifically based network in the U.S. and second largest in the world. How California accomplished this consequential achievement is the subject of a March special issue of the journal Ocean and Coastal Management released last month. Articles analyze the challenges, achievements and lessons learned in the public MPA planning processes.

Under a mandate from the state’s 1999 Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA), California’s network of MPAs designated by the California Fish and Game Commission have greatly increased the proportion of state waters protected. The resulting network designates approximately 9.4 percent of state waters as “no-take” MPAs, and about 16 percent of state waters are now under some form of protection, which is a dramatic increase in coverage. Informed by science and crafted with significant stakeholder involvement, California’s new network of 124 designated areas (including 119 MPAs and five recreational management areas, all managed within the network) replaced 63 existing MPAs that were mostly small (covering just 2.7 percent of state waters, with less than ¼ percent in no-take MPAs) and considered ineffective. The area covered by the MPAs represents approximately 60 percent of all no-take MPAs within the waters of the 48 contiguous U.S. states. Planning for this network of MPAs yields important lessons for other planning efforts globally.

The special issue of Ocean and Coastal Management includes nine articles by key participants from the MLPA Initiative, an innovative public-private partnership between the California Natural Resources Agency, California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Resources Legacy Fund Foundation. The Initiative was tasked with helping the state redesign its MPAs in conjunction with stakeholders, scientists, experts, resource managers, policy-makers and the public. The articles have now been made available for free download at the journal website.

“This special issue provides an important record of the MLPA Initiative’s work and how California conducted public processes to design an improved system of MPAs and therefore provides important lessons that can inform other similar efforts,” said Mary Gleason, senior scientist at The Nature Conservancy.

“The network of MPAs was designed by stakeholders with guidance from scientists, managing agencies, experts, members of the public and policy-makers, to meet the six goals of the MLPA, while also allowing for human uses of marine resources – understandably a complicated task that involved tradeoffs and compromises but with the vision that the MPA network will provide long-term benefits to California and our marine environment,” said Ken Wiseman, executive director of the MLPA Initiative.

Informed by scientific guidance intended to increase benefits and ecological connections among individual MPAs, this improved network is also globally significant.

“Completing the nation’s first statewide open coast system of marine protected areas strengthens California’s ongoing commitment to conserve marine life for future generations,” said Charlton H. Bonham, director of the Department of Fish and Wildlife. “This statewide system will also benefit fish and fishermen in California for generations to come. And, the science shows that by protecting sensitive ocean and coastal habitats, marine life flourishes and in turn, creates a healthier system overall.

The California Fish and Game Commission, the decision-making authority under the MLPA, acted on the basis of recommendations delivered by the MLPA Initiative, which conducted four regional public planning processes between 2005 and 2011. California’s MLPA calls for redesigning the state’s existing MPAs to meet specific goals to increase coherence and effectiveness in protecting the state’s marine life, habitats, ecosystems and natural heritage as well as to improve recreational, educational and study opportunities provided by marine ecosystems subject to minimal human disturbance.

Please be reminded that abstracts for the AAUS/ESDP Symposium are due by April 15th! See announcement and details below. For more information on this year's meeting visit here.

The American Academy of Underwater Sciences and European Scientific Diving Panel Symposium Committee is now accepting abstracts for the Curaçao Joint International Scientific Diving Symposium, October 23-27, 2013. Electronic submission of 300-word abstracts are accepted at this email until April 15. Subject line must include "AAUS symposium abstract" followed by lead author's last name. Topics range broadly in the marine sciences from marine conservation, ecology and biodiversity to methods and techniques of underwater research and diving safety. Authors will be notified of abstract acceptance for oral or poster presentation by May 1. Authors expressly accept the obligation of submitting an 800 to 1200-word extended abstract, or full manuscript at the authors' discretion, by July 1 for publication in the 2013 Symposium Proceedings. Editorial and review comments will be forwarded to authors for their consideration with a final submission return date of August 31. For queries please contact Dr. Michael A. Lang or Dr. Martin D.J. Sayer.

The University of Washington (UW) Friday Harbor Laboratories (FHL) will conduct its annual short intensive scientific dive course from August 12 through August 25th, 2013. This course is open to scientists and students at any level of study who meet the requirements for AAUS certification: a minimum of 20 logged dives and medical clearance. Application deadline is April 15, 2013. For more information, please see the FHL website. or contact the FHL Dive Officer Pema Kitaeff directly at pema @uw. edu (no spaces) or 206-543-0876.

Southeastern Archaeological Research, Inc. (SEARCH) is seeking full time Dive Safety Officer (DSO). The DSO will also serve as a Project Maritime Archaeologist/Marine Remote Sensing Specialist and will complement our Maritime Division for multiple projects throughout the United States, Caribbean, and Pacific. This position is based in Pensacola, Florida and offers a competitive compensation and benefits package.

Successful candidates must be M.A. level (M.A. in hand, no ABT) or above and be experienced on the water. Must be an active Instructor from an internationally recognized certifying agency.

You need to demonstrate:

• Proficiency in the operation of small boats and the ability to troubleshoot small engines, electronics, pumps, and trailers;

• Certification as an Instructor of SCUBA diving, knowledge of surface supplied air diving, willingness to learn surface supplied air diving, and scientific diving. Detailed and verifiable certifications must be included with your CV.

The successful applicant must have a developed capacity for attention to detail, be organized, able to work well on simultaneous projects, and be able to meet deadlines. DSO will report directly to the SEARCH Diving Control Board and Principals. Experience in cultural resource management and the preparation of deliverables for the DoD and USACE is preferred.

Applicants should have a demonstrated proficiency in MS Word, MS Office Pro suite, PowerPoint, Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and Acrobat. GIS experience is desirable. Need to be familiar with the preparation of Diving Safety Manuals, Dive Operations Plans, Activity Hazards Analysis, Emergency Management Plans, and Float Plans. Applicants must be available to travel to locations worldwide for extended periods of time and must be able to receive government security clearances. Experience as a DAN O2, CPR, and First Aid Instructor a plus.

For immediate consideration, please forward a cover letter, resume, salary history and three (3) professional references to Amy Semesco. All inquires will be treated with discretion.

SEARCH is an equal opportunity employer and a drug-free workplace. Pre-employment drug testing and a criminal background check are conducted upon hire.

Click here for more information about SEARCH.

Job Description:
The temporary Laboratory Technician I for the Biology department will be responsible for providing field and laboratory support for a marine community ecology lab investigating the consequences of climate change for sub-tidal ecosystems in the Gulf of Maine. Duties include, but are not limited to: be responsible for conducting extensive biological surveys of rocky reef communities using SCUBA; follow and assist in the creation of protocols to set up, monitor and maintain a variety of oceanographic instruments and sub-tidal field experiments; establish and maintain a well-organized lab environment; maintain and organize lab sampling gear and instrumentation for the field and ensure the proper working condition; conduct biological surveys, including the abundance and size of common algae, invertebrates and fish, in the Gulf of Maine; install and recover biological sampling devices and oceanographic instrumentation from the field; document sampling protocols and metadata; assist in processing and sorting biological field samples; maintain the cleanliness and safety of the laboratory according to established standards and procedures, utilizing procedures such as disposing of contaminants, washing and sterilizing glassware, and inspecting temperature control equipment; maintain project's databases and ensure quality assurance and quality control of data entered in the database; produce, maintain and present as requested notes and graphic results of experiments, equipment calibration and organizational tasks; maintain accurate records on such matters as materials and procedures used and inventory control records; report to laboratory coordinator as required for clear and thorough communication regarding lab needs; mentor student assistants and volunteers; and other duties as assigned.

Requirements:
One year of full-time, or equivalent part-time, technical, professional or educational experience in work in a marine biological or oceanographic laboratory is required. Current AAUS (American Academy for Underwater Scientists) scientific diving certification with extensive research diving experience is required. Current small boat operator’s license, equivalent, or ability to complete requirements for license soon after hiring is required. Valid driver’s license is required. Incumbents will be required to carry and lift heavy objects and endure the physical demands of an ambitious diving schedule. Experience towing, launching and navigating (using differential GPS) small (~22') research boats and deploying oceanographic instrumentation is required. Experience in programming oceanographic instruments and preparing them for deployment to the field preferred.

Knowledge of the natural history and identification of the common algae, invertebrates and fish inhabiting the Gulf of Maine is preferred.

Additional Information:
UMass Boston is an Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity, Title IX Employer. Among the procedures which may be used to select personnel to fill vacant positions are review of work experience, reference checks, and interviews. All appointments and promotions will be effective on a Sunday.

Application Instructions:
Please apply online with your resume, cover letter and list of three professional references
Classified. Union. Benefited.
Full time. Grade 14.
Biweekly salary: $1,478.06.
Laboratory Technician I. 40 hours per week.
State funded. Temporary, one year appointment.
Review of candidates will begin following the application closing date.

Closing date for applications: February 14, 2013

Saint Mary’s College of California (SMC) and the University of Rhode Island (URI) will be offering a joint Field School in Maritime Archaeology in Bermuda during July 2013. This annual field school has been conducted in cooperation with the Bermuda Maritime Museum since 1999. The field school is a research-based learning experience that exposes students to a variety of activities including archival research, artifact conservation, archaeological survey, and underwater excavation and documentation of historic shipwrecks.

The field school will be conducted from July 15 to August 8, 2013. Training leading to AAUS qualification as a Scientific Diver-in-Training will be provided at Saint Mary’s College in advance of departure for Bermuda. Classroom work focused on maritime history and maritime archaeological field methods will comprise week one of the field school. Underwater research and documentation of 16th and 17th century shipwrecks will be conducted in Bermuda during the remaining weeks.

For additional information and requirements, please contact jallan at stmarys-ca.edu or rodmather at mail.uri.edu. For information on the scientific diving portion of the course please email the SMC Dive Safety Officer.

Underwater Explorers (UE) Instructors will be responsible for delivering surface scuba programs to the public on our outside deck and in the Great Tide Pool. Instructors are responsible for teaching children ages 8-13 about the natural history of our tide pools and ocean. The Underwater Explorers program introduces participants to the use of specialized SCUBA gear. Click here for the complete job description and instructions on how to apply.

Organization: NORTH CAROLINA AQUARIUM ON ROANOKE ISLAND (AZA Member)
Location: Manteo, NC, United States
Job or Internship: Job

Duration: Temporary 11-month position maximum offering 30 hours to 40 hours per week with evening, weekend, and holiday work required. No benefits are provided.

Salary: $13.51 per hour

Minimum Qualifications: Applicants must have an Instructor and/or Divemaster rating with nationally recognized SCUBA certification agency (NAUI, PADI, SSI etc.), plus have current liability insurance (proof required prior to employment). Applicants should be articulate, have good organizational skills, possess ability to work under adverse conditions, ability to lift up to 50 lbs, function as a dive team member, and willingness to learn. Applicants must also have a valid state driver’s license, social security number, and be a United States Citizen and/or have a valid work visa (proof of each required prior to employment).

Preferred Qualifications: Applicants with Instructor rating (NAUI, IANTD, PADI, SSI etc.), scientific diver designation with AAUS organizational member, and experience working with captive aquatic animals.

Job Description: Position includes scientific exhibit/offshore diving up to 8 dives per week, supervising daily staff/volunteer dive teams, guest divers, filling dive cylinders, conducting live in-water education programs, performing minor dive equipment maintenance, volunteer diver scheduling, dive record keeping administration, daily/weekly underwater cleaning of various exhibits, diver requalification, plus assisting husbandry department with maintenance of animal life support systems, meeting animal nutritional/medical needs, monitoring of water quality, and animal collecting as needed.

Posting Dates: 02/01/2013 to 03/8/2013

How To Apply: Mail, fax or deliver a completed/signed PD-107 State Application for Employment to the address below by 5 p.m. on the date indicated. A cover letter and resume may be submitted along with the completed application. However, cover letters or resumes will not be accepted in lieu of the state application form. Please complete the state application form completely and indicate the desired position on the application. For more information, please contact Dive Safety Officer Pat Murphy Patrick.Murphy@ncaquariums.com . State Application (PD-107) may be downloaded at http://www.osc.nc.gov/careers/ or go here and click Roanoke Island for additional information.

Mail applications to:
Dive Safety Officer Pat Murphy
North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island
P.O. Box 967
Manteo, North Carolina 27954-0967

Fax applications attention:
Dive Safety Officer Pat Murphy
252-473-1980

The chamber has been off line now for 8 months
The problems that face the chamber are being addressed.

1. Insurance
DAN will insure the chamber and the volunteers once the chamber is certified safe and operational.
Insurance will cost $5000 a year

2.The city of PG has agreed to cover workman's comp. to the volunteers

3.NOAA has offered to send chamber Techs. to address the need for new windows in the chamber. Parts have been sourced. The labor is needed.DAN WILL THEN CERTIFY THE CHAMBER FOR OPERATION.

4.The Chamber has over $35,000 in a account with the City of Pacific Grove
This is just enough to do the work and certify the chamber as well as buy insurance.
That will likely drain the account .

5.The City of Pacific Grove has frozen the money until the chamber can show fiscal responsibility.
The city needs to see a budget and plan to fund the chamber in perpetuity.
The budget will be $10,000 a year. The supervisors are compiling the data for the city as we speak.

6.The research diving community including the Monterey Bay Aquarium and the universities in the area with diving programs have pledged to help financially.
This will prove to the City fathers and mothers that there is annual funding.

This leads me to my point. For the chamber to continue we need the help of the Recreational dive community. We are the group that requires the chamber most of all.
Our group by far out numbers all the others put together as far as bodies in the waters and we need your help.

To show the City that we can fund the chamber for the long haul I am asking that a donations be made with a promise of continuing annual support from our community.
In the short term individual donations are needed quickly with a promise in an attached letter that the contribution will continue annually.

In the long haul Our community will be creating fundraiser Gala events as well as in water "Chamber Days." These take time to plan and you will see them coming down the pike soon enough.

In the mean time Donations are needed now.

There are Two ways to get the money to the chamber;

1.) Checks Can be Made payable to; City of pacific Grove Recompresion chamber.
300 Forest Ave. Pacific Grove Ca. 93950
Atten; Cathy

2.) If you need to make your contributions to a 501c-3 or are distrustful of city government in general.
Please send the check payable to the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Foundation. Please put PG hyperbaric chamber in the memo space.
99 Pacific St, Suite 455E Monterey CA. 93940
Atten; Dennis Long
Soon there will be a "donate here" button on the web site. http://www.mbnmsf.org

After donating you will receive a letter thanking you for your tax deductible donation.

Assistant DSO/Animal Care Technician for the shark diving program at Point Defiance Zoo in Tacoma WA. Click here for info.

The dive safety officer (DSO) will serve as working diver, lead diver, dive supervisor, and/or mission coordinator during air, mixed gas, decompression, and/or saturation research diving operations involving a variety of diving technologies as appropriate for the organization. The DSO will communicate with scientists, academic administrators, mission team members, vendors and the general public, establish and maintain various record keeping systems and provide oversight of technical programs and administrative activities of dive lockers, ancillary equipment, and facilities. The DSO will also coordinate and manage facilities, equipment, supplies, and related resources in compliance with health and safety regulations to maintain a safe working environment. The DSO will instruct and train staff, students, scientists and other personnel in diving procedures, equipment use and equipment maintenance appropriately for the trainee's qualifications and professional needs. See the full job posting and application instructions here.

2013 AAUS/OWUSS Internship

OWUSS is now taking applications for the 2013 AAUS/OWUSS scientific diving internship. This internship will provide undergraduates with the experience and opportunities necessary for a future in science, diving for research, or scientific diving-related fields. Intern applicants can be students from colleges and universities with an interest in science and diving. The internship will be supported by funding for travel to/from site, room, board, and other internship-related expenses. For more information
click here.

To apply, visit here.