An Interview with a Groundfish Observer

I've known Robyn since we were both 5 years old. She's always led an interesting life and I decided to ask her if I could interview her on her life journey at the moment!! 

What is your specific job title and what do you do?

"My job title is North Pacific Groundfish Observer. Basically I live and work on Pollock trawlers (boats using a large net to catch fish) in Alaska's Bering Sea. I'm generally out of Dutch Harbor (where deadliest catch is filmed and yes I've met some of them.) Whenever they pull up the net I take a few random samples and identify, count and weigh all fish in my samples. I also take biological data from a sub sample such as sex/length information and otoliths (ear bones used to age the fish). All of this data is used to determine how healthy the fish stocks are and help them to figure out how much quota fishermen can be given next season to keep from over fishing.  I am also responsible for making sure that all rules are followed by the fishermen"

(Robyn on the top of ballyhoo mountain on the island of Unalaska near Dutch Harbor (we just call it Dutch) )

Did you ever think that you would end up working on a boat in Alaska, in the middle of the sea? 

"Since I was young I have always loved the ocean, and I caught the boating bug in high school when I was certain that I would go to a maritime academy to be a boat captain. I even applied and got in, but I'm too interested in biology to give it up. To answer your question, I've always known that I want to work on a boat collecting data as my career, but no I never really thought that I would be in the Alaskan wilderness of the sea. I heard about this program about 6 months before I graduated and was automatically intrigued so I did get a little time to get used to the idea... not that getting used to it made me prepared in any way haha!"

What are the positive and/or fun parts of your job?

"I love boat life. I love living in close quarters with the crew because you can't help but become close. I love standing on the bow watching whales and just the rise and fall of the sea. I love that most people in the world will never get to experience what I experienced out there. It's also a lot of fun because some of my best friends are fellow observers and while I'm the only observer on my own vessel, whenever we're in town there is a good chance that you can hang out with your friends. And while it's hard work there is also a lot of down time so that's a plus too!"

(Hiking around dutch on bunker hill in the summer)

Are there parts of your job that you wish weren't apart of it? 

"There are definitely downsides to the job. There's a reason it pays well and that's because it isn't glamorous and not many people are willing to do it. They take safety very seriously, however it is still not enjoyable to walk around, work or even sleep on a boat taking on massive waves for 20 hours. I've never been seasick but I do go into a kind of coma that's hard to get out of. I am also often covered in fish guts and once got a wad of scales stuck in my eye for 30 minutes. All clothing smells like fish or the processing plant. The worst part of the job in my opinion is watching offloads. Work isn't done when you get to town I have to watch half of a 13-17 hour offload (2 hrs on and 2 off) which consists of me sitting on a trash can pretty much outside watching fish go by on a conveyor belt. Smelly, tiring and tedious to say the least."

I've heard Alaska's scenery is beautiful. Where you ever in awe about all the nature that surrounded you? 

"Alaska is amazing. Even the small islands that I was out of had some amazing sights. There was one walk/hike that wasn't too challenging that we did quite a bit that has some amazing views and I climbed a pretty intense mountain called Ballyhoo which stole my breath. Super challenging but so worth it. Also one day we were steaming back into Dutch from fishing and I happened to be chatting with the captain in the wheelhouse and got an amazing view of the mountains as I came in. It's so beautiful that it's hard to explain it, even with pictures."

(Robyn's first ever boat, the Gun-Mar. She was on this the summer of 2015)

It's pretty cold in Alaska. What was your typical day to day outfit? 

"True, it is quite cold in Alaska, but not so bad as everyone thinks, at least where I was. I was there August - mid October and then mid January through mid March. Since the islands I was out of were pretty far south on the Aleutian island chain and surrounded by water it is much milder weather than northern and inland Alaska. Having said that the wind is brutal. Because it's a physical job with lots of fish smell involved we don't really wear anything that we want to wear in the real world afterwards. It's a lot of flannels, sweatshirts and yoga or sweatpants. If going outside in winter I would wear 2-3 layers on top with a fleece-lined coat to top it off. Also fleece-lined leggings with some other pants, boots, a hat and fleece-lined gloves. In case you haven't guessed, fleece-lined is the name of the game. Ooh and wool socks are a must too"

What do you do on your days off, since you're pretty isolated?

"On the types of boats I was on (Pollock trawlers) there is a surprising number of days that we get on land. In general we are out for 2-3 days and on land for 2 days. Yes it is quite isolated. To give you a little background on just how much I'll tell you a bit about the islands I was out of. Dutch Harbor is the largest port for fishing in all of Alaska. Most of the people who work and live there are in the fishing industry but there is a small town and a Safeway grocery store, school, airport for 20 passenger planes and a hospital and stuff like that.  Akutan has a population of less than 60 people. The only way to get there is by boat or helicopter. There is the fish processing plant and that's about it. Now onto what we do on land! In Dutch we go hiking or if someone has a car we go driving, but honestly most of the time if we aren't offloading, we are at the bar. There are 2 main ones within walking distance of the harbor (dangerous) but if any other observers are in town that's where we meet up. Dutch has civilized bars but Akutan had one called the Roadhouse with only canned light beer that they ran out if quite often haha! Akutan also has a gym that we would play in or hang out in the park with the stray dogs."

Since your done (for now) with Alaska's journey, do you think you'll ever go back to the boat life? 

(Eagles eagles everywhere. This one is munching on some Pollock from our net!)


"I'm planning on going back to Alaska in the fall, but yes I will definitely always be in the boat life. It's what I enjoy and where I belong! I was actually offered a job today as a crew member and marine biology educator on a tall ship (large masts and sails like a pirate ship) out of new jersey for the summer!! But ultimately I would like to do research cruises a few times a year working on someone's research or.possibly my own one day so yes I'll be back on a boat quite soon!"



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I want to thank Robyn for letting me interview her!!