My apologies for not having updated you all since the end of
my first training week. That week was one of the slowest ever. In contrast,
weeks 2 and 3 flew by faster than I could keep track. I took the final today.
It was not easy, but I passed. It wasn’t like any other final I have taken. Not
so much because of the difficulty of subject matter, but because what we’re
learning REALLY matters. The consequence for not mastering the material isn’t just
and passing with a score of 80% or higher is losing the job. This is for good
reason, however. The things that I have learned in this program are unlike
anything that I have ever studied. This newfound knowledge has the potential to
save my own life and save others’ as well. Safety is always the number 1
priority. We will be working in some of the most dangerous conditions the ocean
has to offer. Don’t get me wrong; we are not fisherman, and do not work quite
as hard as they do; I have the utmost respect for them. But it can be an
unforgiving environment for all who are subjected to it.
We checked out all of our sampling gear including but not
limited to 4 sampling baskets, scales, measuring tape, specimen collection
equipment, forms to fill out (a huge part of this job), life jacket, immersion
suit, Personal Locator Beacon, strobe lights, etc. It is starting to feel real
now. I will be leaving for Anchorage as early as Monday, as late as Friday. The
nature of this job is ever-changing, and requires us to be flexible and willing
to relocate at a moment’s notice.
The Saltwater trainees that survived the program, myself included,
have been assigned to the Rockfish fishery in Kodiak. I am very excited about
this opportunity, as Rockfish is the only fishery in Kodiak that my company covers,
and the fishing window is relatively short. This means the probability of
getting in is fairly low. I am told that Kodiak is a beautiful place, and I feel
very fortunate to begin my adventure here. As I previously mentioned, I cannot
post pictures that I only had the ability to take because of my job. I will,
however, share as many pictures of non fishing boat origin as I can. More to
come!
