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11/4/2025 (8:00 PM EDT)

25-06259

Fisheries Biologist II

Pay Grade

Salary

$43,210.08 - $64,816.08 Annually

Employment Type

EXECUTIVE BRANCH | FULL TIME | ELIGIBLE FOR OVERTIME PAY | 18A | 37.5 HR/WK

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Hiring Agency

Tourism, Arts, & Heritage Cabinet | Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Resources

Location

Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources
120 Fish Hatchery Road
Morehead, KY 40351 USA

Description

Love the outdoors? The Minor E. Clark Fish Hatchery in Rowan County, just minutes from Cave Run Lake, is looking for a motivated Fisheries Biologist II to join our team!

This 300-acre facility includes 100 production ponds (124 acres of water) where we culture a wide variety of species including largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, striped bass, hybrid striped bass, walleye, saugeye, muskellunge, crappie, and fathead minnows.

As a Fisheries Biologist II, you’ll be directly involved in fish spawning and pond culture, helping to support important fisheries management efforts across the state. The work is hands-on, often outdoors in all kinds of weather, and follows the seasonal cycles of fish culture—so no two days are alike!

This position requires living on-site, and housing is provided as part of the role.

If you’re ready for a career that combines biology, fish culture, and the outdoors, we’d love to hear from you!

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Conducts and evaluates fish spawning activities; manages egg and fry care; and stocks production ponds. Applies biological methods to ensure survival and growth of hatchery-reared fish.
Monitors and evaluates water quality parameters to ensure optimal fish health and production; develops and implements feeding strategies; identifies and treats fish diseases; and applies integrated aquatic vegetation management practices in production ponds.
Conducts pond draining and fish harvest; loads fish into transport units; and ensures safe transport and stocking of fish into designated waterbodies in accordance with statewide fisheries management plans.
Performs routine maintenance of hatchery facilities, equipment, and grounds to ensure effective and safe operations in support of fish production.
Maintains detailed fish production records; compiles, analyzes, and reports biological and operational data; and prepares time and activity documentation to support program planning and evaluation.
Provides tours and educational programs at the hatchery; engages with the public, stakeholders, and agency staff to promote understanding of hatchery operations.
Performs other duties as assigned.

We offer a great package of EMPLOYEE and FAMILY-FRIENDLY BENEFITS, including:

A 37.5-hour work week (with occasional overtime required)
Paid time off (sick and vacation) plus paid holidays
Overtime and compensatory time
Affordable health insurance with optional Health Reimbursement Account
Life insurance
Retirement
Wellness incentives program
Training and career development opportunities; paid continuing education
Optional Deferred Compensation program (401K)
Employee discounts on electronics; health and wellness; retail; travel, events and entertainment; and services and education

Minimum Requirements

EDUCATION: Graduate of a college or university with a bachelor's degree. Transcript review must indicate that the following course work has been earned at the undergraduate or graduate level: 1. Biological Sciences: 30 semester hours (45 quarter hours) in biological sciences. Four courses (12 semester or 18 quarter hours) must be in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences; 6 of the 12 required semester hours must be directly related to fisheries science and at least one course (3 semester hours) must cover the principles of fisheries science and management. These courses may include fish management, ichthyology, aquaculture, fish ecology, principles of fisheries science, limnology, and stream ecology. The remaining hours can include other biological science courses such as biology, botany, and ecology. Examples of courses include biology, botany, ecology, cellular biology, fish management, ichthyology and limnology. 2. Physical Sciences: 15 semester hours (23 quarter hours) in physical sciences. Examples of courses are chemistry, physics, hydrology, astronomy, earth science and meteorology. 3. Mathematics and Statistics: 6 semester hours (9 quarter hours) in mathematics and statistics. Must include one calculus and one statistics OR two statistics courses. 4. Communications/Human Dimensions: 9 semester hours (13quarter hours) in communications/human dimensions. Courses include verbal and writing courses that include public speaking, discussion, composition and technical writing. Up to 3 semester hours related to Master's thesis or PhD dissertation course work will count towards the 9 semester hour requirement. Human dimensions can include courses in areas of human personnel management, conflict resolution, socioeconomic and survey techniques.

EXPERIENCE, TRAINING, OR SKILLS: Must have one years of professional experience in fishery research, fishery management and/or a related field.

Substitute EDUCATION for EXPERIENCE: Certification by The American Fisheries Society at the Associate Fisheries Professional or Certified Fisheries Professional level will substitute for the education requirements. For additional information on The American Fisheries Society refer to https://fisheries.org/ A master's degree in fishery management, fishery biology or a related field will substitute for one year of the required experience.

Substitute EXPERIENCE for EDUCATION: NONE

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS (AGE, LICENSURE, REGULATION, ETC.): Must possess a valid driver's license prior to appointment in this classification. Must maintain any required licensure(s), certification(s), or other credentials for the length of employment in this classification. Employing agency is responsible for ensuring employee possesses and maintains required licensure(s), certification(s) or other credentials.

Working Conditions

Incumbents working in this job title spend the majority of time outdoors performing job duties.

Probationary Period

This job has an initial and promotional probationary period of 6 months, except as provided in KRS 18A.111.

If you have questions about this advertisement, please contact Josh Pennington at josh.pennington@ky.gov.

An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/D

State of Kentucky - Tourism, Arts, & Heritage Cabinet | Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Resources

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