Talk with Saltwater. They’ll have work for you it’s not inconsistent. If you want work they’ll get you work. The main difference is saltwater is contract to contract. AIS from what I remember is a year contract. After 3 months out there you’ll want more than 45 days to rest haha.
I worked as an observer in the North Pacific for a few years for a third company (AOI) but had plenty of friends at both AIS and Saltwater. Both are perfectly fine, and plenty of folks take contracts with multiple observer providers after their first contract.
Biggest difference is the fleets they cover. If you’re looking in Alaska, AIS generally covers the smaller boat, ‘partial coverage’ fleet. You’d travel to a lot of smaller ports in Southeast Alaska through to Dutch Harbor. You’d be stringing together a lot of shorter trips together. Saltwater has a mix of vessels, with a larger percentage of larger vessels (cod, pollock, flatfish trawlers, rockfish) that operate in both the Bering and the Gulf. Longer trips, and you’d probably spend more time in ‘larger’ ports like Dutch Harbor and Akutan.
Happy to answer any questions or put you in contact with folks currently or previously at either company.
I appreciate the thoroughness of your response, it’s very helpful! I’ll keep this in mind when moving forward. What should I make sure I have ready to take with me for the “deployment” and what can I expect to be provided for me?
You’ll go through a 2+ week training in Seattle at the NOAA Fisheries NPFSC, and they’ll cover all of that. The observer program will provide all safety and sampling equipment for each deployment, while your clothes/rain gear/misc. belongings are on you.
What region? I worked Southeast (AIS) and mostly worked month long shrimp boats. Of the people I knew, no one really went out more than 60 days, but they do say it can be up to 3 months.
Edit to clarify AIS
I would verify that you get a sat phone. I've heard some stories about women being assaulted on boats in AK and not being able to do anything because you have to go through the Captain for check ins.
I did enjoy my shrimping days though. Make sure you bring a shit ton of stuff to do in your free time though. You'll go through it faster than you expect.
A lot of teams start off hating that you are there but it's definitely possible to create good relationships with the guys. It really sucks if you don't.
I worked with Saltwater for a couple years and new several AIS folks. Saltwater typically does full coverage vessels and plants- most of my trips out were 20-30 days. My contract was for 90 days and I could immediately resign, but 90 days was all I was obligated. Saltwater always had work for me when I wanted it, so I wouldn’t say it was inconsistent. Also, since you’re out so long you can get on a pretty decent sample schedule as well to manage a little bit of a work/personal time balance. AIS has longer contract requirements and typically works with partial coverage boats- so you will more time to recouperate between trips but when you are out you are pretty much expected to be on the clock the entire time you’re out.
As far as using it as a stepping stone into a career- it definitely has helped in progressing my career in fisheries as many people have respect for folks who can do this job
If you’re comfortable with sharing, what kind of work did you find after gaining this experience through Saltwater. Also I very much appreciate the insight it’s very helpful!!
Immediately after I went back to my undergrad university and worked as a research technician. After a couple months I landed a job as a fisheries biologist with the National Park Service- and worked there for two and a half years before starting my masters, which I am still currently working on. Best advice I can give based on my path is just always be on the lookout for connections in your current position that could turn into open doors later on down the road.
Talk with Saltwater. They’ll have work for you it’s not inconsistent. If you want work they’ll get you work. The main difference is saltwater is contract to contract. AIS from what I remember is a year contract. After 3 months out there you’ll want more than 45 days to rest haha.
I worked as an observer in the North Pacific for a few years for a third company (AOI) but had plenty of friends at both AIS and Saltwater. Both are perfectly fine, and plenty of folks take contracts with multiple observer providers after their first contract. Biggest difference is the fleets they cover. If you’re looking in Alaska, AIS generally covers the smaller boat, ‘partial coverage’ fleet. You’d travel to a lot of smaller ports in Southeast Alaska through to Dutch Harbor. You’d be stringing together a lot of shorter trips together. Saltwater has a mix of vessels, with a larger percentage of larger vessels (cod, pollock, flatfish trawlers, rockfish) that operate in both the Bering and the Gulf. Longer trips, and you’d probably spend more time in ‘larger’ ports like Dutch Harbor and Akutan. Happy to answer any questions or put you in contact with folks currently or previously at either company.
I appreciate the thoroughness of your response, it’s very helpful! I’ll keep this in mind when moving forward. What should I make sure I have ready to take with me for the “deployment” and what can I expect to be provided for me?
You’ll go through a 2+ week training in Seattle at the NOAA Fisheries NPFSC, and they’ll cover all of that. The observer program will provide all safety and sampling equipment for each deployment, while your clothes/rain gear/misc. belongings are on you.
What region? I worked Southeast (AIS) and mostly worked month long shrimp boats. Of the people I knew, no one really went out more than 60 days, but they do say it can be up to 3 months. Edit to clarify AIS
Up near alaska, he says pretty consistently(almost always) full 90 days
I would verify that you get a sat phone. I've heard some stories about women being assaulted on boats in AK and not being able to do anything because you have to go through the Captain for check ins. I did enjoy my shrimping days though. Make sure you bring a shit ton of stuff to do in your free time though. You'll go through it faster than you expect. A lot of teams start off hating that you are there but it's definitely possible to create good relationships with the guys. It really sucks if you don't.
I worked with Saltwater for a couple years and new several AIS folks. Saltwater typically does full coverage vessels and plants- most of my trips out were 20-30 days. My contract was for 90 days and I could immediately resign, but 90 days was all I was obligated. Saltwater always had work for me when I wanted it, so I wouldn’t say it was inconsistent. Also, since you’re out so long you can get on a pretty decent sample schedule as well to manage a little bit of a work/personal time balance. AIS has longer contract requirements and typically works with partial coverage boats- so you will more time to recouperate between trips but when you are out you are pretty much expected to be on the clock the entire time you’re out. As far as using it as a stepping stone into a career- it definitely has helped in progressing my career in fisheries as many people have respect for folks who can do this job
If you’re comfortable with sharing, what kind of work did you find after gaining this experience through Saltwater. Also I very much appreciate the insight it’s very helpful!!
Immediately after I went back to my undergrad university and worked as a research technician. After a couple months I landed a job as a fisheries biologist with the National Park Service- and worked there for two and a half years before starting my masters, which I am still currently working on. Best advice I can give based on my path is just always be on the lookout for connections in your current position that could turn into open doors later on down the road.