Individual Placement - Fish and Aquatic Conservation

Position Summary

This internship provides hands-on experience supporting the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Fish and Aquatic Conservation Program through a unique blend of Early Detection Rapid Response (EDRR) fieldwork and hatchery-based fish culture activities. Interns will assist with invasive species surveillance,

fisheries sampling, environmental DNA (eDNA) collection, and data management while contributing to mission-critical conservation and restoration efforts across the Southeast Region. In addition, participants will gain practical

experience in hatchery operations, including fish husbandry, water quality:

• monitoring, spawning support, and fish distribution. The project’s goal is to
• build workforce capacity for aquatic invasive species management while providing

interns with comprehensive exposure to both field biology and hatchery operations. Interns will work closely with federal, state, Tribal, and partner staff, gaining real-world skills in applied fisheries science, biosecurity, and conservation program support.

Location

Vero Beach, FL

• Schedule

March 2, 2026 - November 7, 2026

Key Duties and Responsibilities

Primary Field Duties – Early Detection & Rapid Response (EDRR); Water collections for eDNA analyses; Physical sampling using a variety of fisheries gears (electrofishing boats, backpack and barge electrofishers, cast nets, minnow traps, seines, fyke nets, dipnets, hook-and-line, etc.);

• Assisting Tribal, Federal, and state partners in aquatic invasive species
• monitoring and management;
• Supporting Fish Slam / Bioblitz events to document introductions and range

expansions of non-native species;

• Conducting population estimates, evaluating gear effectiveness, and

standardizing protocols;

• Implementing EDRR field preparations and after-action tasks (float plans,

mapping, equipment staging, disinfection, cleaning, and storage);

• Performing data entry, QA/QC, and technical reporting;

Hatchery & Fish-Culture Duties;

• Assisting with daily fish husbandry tasks including feeding, monitoring, water

quality sampling, and system checks;

• Supporting spawning operations, egg collection, egg incubation, larval rearing,

and fry/fingerling culture;

• Monitoring pond and tank systems, including standpipe adjustments, pond

filling/draining, algae and vegetation monitoring, and aeration systems;

• Assisting with pond harvests, sampling events, inventories, marking/tagging, and

distribution of fish; Cleaning, disinfecting, and maintaining tanks, raceways, equipment, nets, culture systems, and work areas;

• Supporting biosecurity and sanitation protocols;

Participating in grounds upkeep, minor repairs, equipment checks, and organizing culture supplies;

• Supporting multi-program coordination across fish production, mussel propagation

(if applicable), and EDRR operations

Marginal Duties

Field sampling and data processing; Fish husbandry tasks including feeding, monitoring, water quality sampling, and system checks; Data entry and quality assurance checks; Fisheries tasks such as electrofishing, boating, trailering, stomach content analysis, and sampling operations;

• Support for spawning, incubation, rearing, and harvests of cultured species;

Preparation and maintenance of field and hatchery equipment; Detailed reporting, communication, and administrative tasks; Cleaning and maintaining vehicles, vessels, nets, tanks, ponds, and workspaces;

• Supporting biological assessments, inventory work, and other conservation tasks

Required Qualifications:

High school diploma or GED; Ability to lift and carry more than 50 lbs; Ability to work safely in aquatic, muddy, and uneven environments; Ability to legally work in the U.S. (part of SCA’s National Direct AmeriCorps program)

This SCA Position is authorized under the Public Land Corps Authority. All participants must be between the ages of 16 and 30, inclusive, or veterans age 35 or younger. Participants must also be a citizen or national of the United States or lawful permanent resident alien of the United States. Hours served can

be applied toward the Public Land Corps (PLC) hiring authority.

Preferred Qualifications:

Associate's or Bachelor’s degree in fisheries, biology, environmental science, wildlife, or related field (or equivalent experience); 1+ year of experience in aquatic sampling, conservation work, hatchery operations, or fish culture;

Experience with fish husbandry, water quality testing, spawning/rearing, or:

fisheries field sampling; Ability to work effectively in strenuous outdoor and hatchery environments while

• maintaining attention to detail and safety

Hours

40 per week

Living Accommodations

Housing will be provided at the Orangeburg National Fish Hatchery and the Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge. Travel to and from Orangeburg and Pelican Island will be required in a government vehicle.

Compensation:

$600 per week stipend; Housing provided; Travel & per diem covered; Up to 9-month term (starting March 2026); Hands-on experience with USFWS + SCA; Exposure to both hatchery and field fisheries work

All allowances are subject to applicable federal, state, and local taxes.

Personal Vehicle Information

Required

Additional Benefits

Defensive Drive Training First Aid/CPR AmeriCorps: Eligible/Required

Equal Opportunity Statement

The Student Conservation Association, Inc., is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The SCA strives to cultivate a work environment that encourages fairness, teamwork, and respect among all staff members and is committed to maintaining a work atmosphere where lifestyles may grow personally and professionally.