NMFS Commercial Shark Cull Hawaii

Ocean Associates Inc. is seeking two candidates who will provide professional support services to the Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center to conduct fieldwork in the Northwest Hawaiian Islands.

This year NMFS will be undertaking efforts to remove predatory Galapagos sharks at Hawaiian monk seal pupping sites at French Frigate Shoals. Assistants will capture sharks using a variety of techniques, mitigate monk seal mortality, collect biological samples and produce written documents in support of monk seal research efforts.

The contractor shall:

• Participate in planning shark fishing activities at French Frigate Shoals.
• Undergo training to become certified in NOAA Small Boat operations.
• Participate in monk seal field camp activities at French Frigate Shoals for all or
part of the period between June 10 and Aug 18. Duties include assist in field
camp preparations, daily maintenance and operation of field camp along with the
return, repair, and clean-up of field equipment and supplies at the end of camp
• Monitor and document Galapagos shark activity near monk seal pupping sites
• Be responsible for targeted fishing and lethal removal of up to 20 Galapagos
sharks
• Ensure removal activities comply with Native Hawaiian cultural guidelines as
dictated by a Hawaiian Cultural Practitioner
• Independently conduct small boat operations in a shallow dynamic reef
environment
• Be responsible for ensuring all fishing and boating activities are conducted safely
and follow established standard operating procedures
• Be required to camp periodically on small remote islets
• Accomplish duties while striving to minimize the impact of presence and
activities on wildlife including seals, turtles, birds, as well as non-target sharks
and fish
• Assist the Hawaiian monk seal team with research efforts if required
• Will adhere to all rules, regulations and permit requirements applicable to this
project in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.
• Document fishing activities and complete reports summarizing those activities

Place of Performance: The Contractor will work remotely at French Frigate Shoals, on
the NOAA Research Vessel Oscar Elton Sette and at NMFS Facilities in Honolulu.
Deployment in the NWHI will be from approximately 6/10/2010 – 8/23/2010

Period of Performance: 5/24/2010 – 8/30/2010

Minimum experience or background requirements

• High School Diploma or equivalent.
• One to three (1-3) years of shark fishing or shark research experience with proven
ability to capture and handle large sharks utilizing hand lines, drum lines and long
line bottom sets.
• Prior experience shark fishing in Hawaiian waters with ability to identify nearshore
shark species. Experience working in sensitive wildlife areas.
• Ability to construct, deploy and maintain fishing gear.
• Good communication and team skills.
• Good data collection skills with ability to perform basic data entry.
• Ability to swim.
• Ability to work in remote locations for extended periods of time.
• Must be able to work long hours in the sun.
• Must be able to obtain medical clearance for embarking/working on NOAA
research vessels or other appropriate vessels which includes providing proof of
required immunizations and/or obtaining the necessary immunizations as required
by NOAA Marine and Aviation Operations.
• Must meet the US Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration security requirements for working in a federal facility that
includes being fingerprinted and having a federal background check performed.
• Must be able to pass pre-deployment training requirements including field
medical training before being deployed to remote islands.

If you are interested in being considered for this position, please email your resume to
Jobs@OceanAssoc.com

Please use “5010 FFS shark” as the subject line.

Review of applications will begin May 6, 2010 and continue until the position is filled.

Sharks "terrified" of actress Shannen Doherty

Actress SHANNEN DOHERTY "terrified" a bunch of sharks, says shark representative.

The former Beverly Hills, 90210 star went cage diving off the coast of Hawaii two years ago and "freaked out" the sharks when she hopped underwater and appeared "screaming like a loon" at the shark cage viewport.

The sharks representative tells Details magazine, "We couldn't breathe, we started having anxiety attacks, we couldn't stay out of her reach....she's a scary woman to look at you know?"

"Doherty was slamming against the cage; she looked so frickin' mean! Her leg slipped a little through the bars, and rubbed off a layer of my skin", said one shark. Since the encounter, the sharks in the region have refused to set fin back in the area: "We're just terrified now."

The following Underwater Onion was brought to you by Shark Diver. Yes we know S.D does not like sharks, but honestly...who cares?

Hawaii Shark Diving-Got Sharks?

There's actually two shark diving companies in Hawaii of note both operate to the same sites and both come loaded with sharks, and more sharks:

The tour leaves Haleiwa Small Boat Harbor starting at 7:00 a.m. and lasts two-hours. Tours are available throughout the day Shark Adventures uses a custom 32-foot Anderson boat with a swim step on the transom of the boat. Tours are limited to six persons so there is no overcrowding.

Safety of our passengers is our first priority. A safety briefing is given at the start of the tour. People may bring their own mask and snorkel, however, fins are not necessary. Masks and snorkels are also provided on the vessel "Kailolo II". "Kailolo" means water crazy. Once we get to the area, the shark cage is placed in the water. The cage floats on the surface of the water. The water is a cobalt blue and visibility is approximately 200 feet or more. You can actually see the sharks come up from the deep.

Editors Note: Count us in!