SEAFOOD 101
Careers in Seafood
Beth Sanderson, Aquatic
and Ecosystem Ecologist,
NOAA Fisheries
What do you do for the
NOAA Fisheries?
I lead a team of scientists conducting
research that helps recover salmon,
protect habitat, and promote
sustainable use of resources. We
conduct field studies and use analytical
tools to answer questions about species
and their ecosystems. Some of my current research projects examine the
role of non-native species in our Pacific Northwest ecosystems, interactions
between shellfish aquaculture and eelgrass habitat, and the ability of
freshwater rearing habitats to support the growth and survival of juvenile
salmon.
How did you get started?
My love of the water was inspired by summers spent in Northern Wisconsin
playing on lakes. And, I was encouraged by my grandfather who worked
as a chemist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and had a passion for
studying photosynthesis. After graduating from the University of Wisconsin-
Madison with a PhD in Zoology, I started working for NOAA Fisheries. From
the start, I focused on science for salmon recovery.
What is your favorite or most unique aspect of your job?
I love doing fieldwork in spectacular places and I work with really great
colleagues. I especially enjoy involving student interns in field research
projects. This summer in the field, we collected stream invertebrates (bugs!)
that spend part of their lives in the water, collected rocks to see how
much algae is growing in each stream (the base of the food web is really
important!), and took water samples to measure the amount of nitrogen and
phosphorus in the water. We also tag juvenile salmon with tiny rice-sized
tags to measure how well they grow and survive in these streams. We’re
working to learn if stream productivity (the amount of nutrients, algae and
bugs) is related to fish performance.
How do you use science in your job to solve a broader world issue?
Many of the salmon in the Columbia River are listed as Threatened or
Endangered under the Endangered Species Act. The work we do provides
valuable information on how salmon are doing and what factors might be
influencing their survival. Ultimately, the results of our research will help
the region make decisions on how to promote recovery and prevent further
decline.
How can young people get more involved in understanding where their
seafood comes from or their connection the ocean, even if they don’t live
near the coast?
There are some really great books in the popular literature about fish and
seafood that are fun to read. When buying seafood, look for information on
where it comes from and how it’s caught. When dining at restaurants, ask
‘what kind of salmon’ and ‘from where’. Be curious, ask questions, and do
your own reading and research.
Ross Perry,
Moorage Coordinator,
Fishermen’s Terminal
What do you do for the Port
of Seattle?
My job title is harbor
moorage coordinator. What
that means is I’m the go-
to guy in operations to
assign moorage, storage
and net lockers. One of the
main things I do is match
customer needs and vessel
requirements to the right
location at Fishermen’s
Terminal. I fished commercially for seven years before I came to work for
the port.
How did you get started at the Port?
I got started right after the big remodel of the Fishermen’s Center Building
and Northwest Dock in 1988.
What is your favorite part of your job?
The relationships I’ve made over the years with commercial fishermen and
other customers and with other port staff members.
How do you use science in your job?
Over the last few years there has been an explosion in vessel construction.
The new vessels all use the latest in electronics and innovations in hull
design. We have to understand that technology to meet customer needs.
Fishery management is also highly technical and scientific It is important for
us to understand what the managers of the fisheries are doing so we can
meet the needs of the boats in those fisheries.
How can young people get involved and understand d the
seafood industry?
We offer tours from time to time here at Fishermen’s Terminal. There’s also
Fishermen’s Fall Festival, which will take place October third this year. The
Seattle Community College system runs the Seattle Maritime Academy for
people who want to train for a career in the maritime industry, and some of
those people go to work aboard fishing boats, we have summer interns who
we train to work with folks in the industry. Right now there is an uptick in
young people entering the fishing industry. We’ve also seen an increase in
female vessel owners
Ross Perry, left, talks to Neal Anderson as Anderson’s crew
offloads crab pots at the West Wall of Fishermen’s Terminal
in late July.
Photo courtesy of NOAA.
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SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2015 |
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