Department: Coral Restoration
Reports To: Conservation Manager
Classification: Regular, Full-Time
Purpose of Position:
The purpose of this project is to collect, propagate, and restore (via out planting) the corals at St. John coral reefs. This will be accomplished using in-water and land-based coral nurseries to grow new coral, as well as the process of micro-fragmentation for direct out planting of healthy coral. Coral restoration will begin the process of reaching the ten-year target goal of a 10% increase in coral cover of identified coral species in the specific areas of Leinster Bay 3 buoys, Waterlemon Cay, and SE Mary Creek.
Job Summary:
Coral Technicians will work in both the land-based coral nursery and the in-water coral nursery. On land, Coral Technicians are responsible for the daily husbandry of all corals in the coral nurseries located at Coral World Ocean Park. Coral Technicians will assist the Project Manager with regular health assessments of nursery-reared corals, propagation of nursery-reared corals using the micro-fragmentation method and daily maintenance of coral stock, holding tanks and life support systems. In water, Coral Technicians will assist the Project Manager with source coral collection, propagation, out planting events, nursery structure maintenance and expansion, data collection, and monitoring of nursery stock and out-planted corals
Previous experience working directly with corals in aquariums and or nursery facilities is preferred. Dive certification is required.
Essential Duties:
- Assist the Project Manager with all husbandry and life support of corals within the coral land-based and/or in-water nursery
- Provide regular daily maintenance of coral raceways (cleaning algae and other encrusting organisms from coral raceways and fragment racks).
- Provide regular daily maintenance of corals and coral fragments (removing algae from corals and fragment plugs).
- Conduct regular coral health assessments of all corals in land-based nursery.
- Isolate and quarantine impaired corals and coral fragments.
- Perform emergency care to corals such as coral dips, amputations and or other interventions to unhealthy corals and coral fragments.
- Meet regular (daily, weekly, monthly) coral propagation quotas using the micro fragmentation method
- Perform emergency care to diseased corals as directed by Project Manager or when needed (administration of medications and/or other treatments/interventions such as amputations, medicated baths, and coral dips, to diseased or unhealthy corals).
- Assist with the administration of SCTLD treatments to rescued corals: perform water changes and Amoxicillin treatments (daily), and amputations and medicated topical treatments when necessary or as directed by Project Manager).
- Produce fragment plugs as needed for micro-fragmenting purposes.
- Perform routine maintenance and minor repairs of coral holding tanks and other life support systems. Regularly monitor the health, survival, and growth of assigned corals using traditional coral monitoring methods and photo documentation.
- Conduct inventory of coral nursery stock.
- Regularly collect and upload health data (photos and data) to shared, online database.
- Assist with the expansion of in-water nursery, nursery structure construction, deployment and coral stocking
- Conduct regular assessments of coral fragments in in-water nursery and out-planted corals.
- Regularly upload coral nursery stock and out-plating assessment data to shared, online database.
- Assist with coral collection, fragmenting, out-planting and monitoring procedures
- Conduct regular maintenance and cleaning of in-water coral nursery structures.
- Monitor the health, growth, and survival of nursery-reared and out-planted corals using traditional data collection methods and photo documentation
- Assist the Project Manager with the writing of monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, and annual reports.
Qualifications & Skills:
REQUIRED:
- Ability to learn new skills quickly and accomplish said skills without substantial oversight from Project Manager.
- Ability to meet daily requirements and deadlines set by Project Manager.
- Ability to problem solve issues when they arise.
- Proficiency working with Microsoft Excel, Word and PowerPoint
- Experience using Microsoft Excel
- Ability to lift at least 60 pounds
- Possession of a PADI (or equivalent) Open Water Certification
- Must be able to learn new skills quickly and accomplish said skills without substantial oversight from Project Manager.
PREFERRED:
- B.S. or B.A. degree or a high school diploma with substantial experience working in the coral husbandry/aquarium industry.
- Experience working in the coral restoration field.
- Ability to identify Caribbean coral species by the scientific name.
- Ability to identify common Caribbean coral diseases and health impairments such as coral bleaching and paling.
- Experience with stony coral husbandry (preferably Caribbean stony coral species)
- Knowledge of local stony coral species and diseases (especially SCTLD)
- Experience in coral restoration (coral collection, transportation, fragmentation, out planting) procedures
Physical Requirements:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by the employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Ability to see and hear; use arms and hands; handle objects, tools, and controls; and sit. Ability to lift and move 60 pounds. Ability to dive if working in the in-water nursery area.
Other Duties:
Please note this job description is not designed to contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Management reserves the right to revise the job or to require that other or different tasks be performed when circumstances change (example: emergencies, changes to personnel, workload, rush jobs, or technological developments).
Please include the job title in the subject line. References required.
Please submit cover letter, resume, and references by email to be considered for the position.
Contact Information:
Valissa M. Hodge, MHRM
Human Resources Manager
Email: hr@cwori.org
Office: (340) 228 6011