Volunteer on a NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center Survey
NOAA’s Southeast Fisheries Science Center offers volunteers the opportunity to help collect fisheries and oceanographic data at sea. Learn what to expect as a volunteer and how to apply.
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NOAA’s Southeast Fisheries Science Center leads scientific surveys that provide crucial data for stock assessments, fisheries management decisions, protection and restoration of natural resources, and future sustainability efforts. Fish surveys are conducted by the center’s Population and Ecosystems Monitoring Division to support stock assessments, ecosystem-based fishery management, and protected species recovery in the Gulf of America, southeastern U.S. Atlantic, U.S. Caribbean, and Atlantic high seas. Opportunities are often available for volunteers from academic institutions, state and federal agencies, and other organizations to assist with these field surveys.
Qualifications
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To volunteer, you must:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Be a U.S. resident or foreign national with a permanent residence card (foreign nationals without a permanent residence card must receive an additional foreign national security clearance, which can take at least 60 days to process)
Volunteers also must be able to:
- Ascend and descend steel stairs and ladders
- Stand for many hours on deck in harsh weather conditions
- Lift and carry 35 pounds while walking on a moving surface
- Hear a general alarm (hearing aid permitted)
We recommend you know in advance how vulnerable you are to seasickness.
Learn more about what to expect on a NOAA Fisheries Research Expedition
Why Volunteer on a Survey?
Volunteers play a key role in performing essential duties during these surveys. They are provided specific instruction or guidance for the work they do, allowing the opportunity to gain specialized skills and experience in conducting scientific surveys. These surveys must collect precise and accurate data over time and across various locations, so that we can provide the best science possible to effectively manage the living resources of the U.S. Southeast Region and Atlantic high seas. The data collected during our surveys are provided to stock assessment scientists and fishery managers. These data support three regional fishery management councils, two interstate marine fisheries commissions, and the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas.
Volunteers on our surveys can:
- Gain unparalleled hands-on research experience
- Learn from experienced scientists with extensive knowledge
- Experience life at sea
- Learn how NOAA vessels operate
- Build knowledge about diverse marine species
- Make friends and build a professional network
What Should a Volunteer Expect?
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Volunteers will be required to:
- Live on a vessel at sea for long periods (7–21 days depending on the survey)
- Work under variable, sometimes inclement, weather conditions like excessive heat, big waves, rain, and strong wind
- Work varying shift times that might be different from normal sleeping schedules
- Live in close quarters and share facilities (such as cabins, toilets, and showers) with other scientists and crew members
- Clean the deck, other materials, and office spaces after each shift
- Sort and identify fish and invertebrates to species following specific sampling protocols
- Collect biological data, including dissections to extract stomachs, gonads, age structures (such as otoliths, spines, fin rays, and vertebrae), and other samples
Learn more about what to expect on a survey and how to prepare
Read our blog about life on a vessel survey
How to Apply
To inquire about available volunteer positions on an upcoming NOAA SEFSC Fisheries research survey, please complete this form at least two months in advance of the start date of the survey you are interested in (the earlier the better!). Months listed for surveys are estimates. Exact dates will change each year and will be listed below when available.
Apply to participate in a survey
Instructions for Participating on NOAA Ships
Once selected to participate in a research survey you will be asked to fill out a few forms. Please be sure to coordinate with the designated contact to ensure all forms are completed, submitted, and approved at least 30 days prior to the start of the survey (earlier is better). The 30 days applies to all participants, regardless of what leg (portion of the survey) you’re assigned to. Please be aware of your deadlines as some forms require you to submit them by mail which can add time to the completion of your paperwork.
Foreign clearances must be submitted 60 days before the start of the survey.
Southeast Surveys
Learn about our Southeast fishery-independent surveys
Plankton Survey
- Two surveys each year
- Spring: April—May
- Fall: August-September
Groundfish Survey
- Two surveys each year
- Summer: June–July
- Fall: October–November
Learn more about our groundfish surveys
Gulf Video Survey
- One survey per year
- Spring/Summer: March–July
Learn more about the Gulf Fishery-Independent Survey of Habitat and Ecosystem Resources Survey
South Atlantic Trap-Video Survey
- One survey per year
- Summer: May–September (Please reach out the winter preceding the field season in which you’d like to volunteer)
Learn more about the Southeast Fishery-Independent Survey
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Learn more about what to expect on a NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center Survey