The SMURF (Standardized Monitoring Unit for Recruitment of Fishes) Project is a longstanding collaboration between Oregon State University (OSU) and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) to understand juvenile fish recruitment in the nearshore. ODFW & OSU are seeking volunteers to support SMURF sampling at Redfish Rocks Marine Reserve this summer. The data collected through this project will become part of a long-term dataset curated by OSU and ODFW that is used to support additional research and inform stock assessments of Oregon’s groundfish. Each volunteer will receive a $150 honorarium and free lodging at the Port Orford Field Station the night before the survey. The honorarium is funded by ODFW Marine Reserves and will be paid out through OSU.
What to Expect on a Survey Day: Following a 6am departure from Port Orford, the volunteer will provide support to freedivers from the deck of a small boat (the volunteer will not be going in the water). On water support includes grabbing the net from freedivers, filling buckets with ocean water, flushing the SMURF, and assisting with juvenile fish preservation. After about 4 hours on the water, the team lead and volunteer (you!) will take the collected juvenile fish to the wet lab at the Port Orford Field Station where you will help identify, measure, and preserve them in Ethanol. You will also assist in filling out data sheets. The lab work can take an additional 4-5 hours.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: How do I become a volunteer?
A: Email ODFW Marine Reserves Ecological Research Project Lead Moritz Schmid moritz.s.schmid@odfw.oregon.gov with your interest. He will help you get onboarded in the ODFW volunteer system. Once onboarded as a volunteer, he will connect you to Faith Townsend who will be leading the surveys at Redfish Rocks Marine Reserve. Faith will be the primary point of contact for scheduling survey dates and volunteers. Faith will reach out in advance of each survey to fill volunteer slots.
Q: How far in advance are survey days scheduled?
A: Generally surveys are scheduled about 1 week in advance, but are dependent on weather conditions and may be canceled within 48 hours and rescheduled as needed.
Q: Can I still sign up to volunteer if I’m not available for all of the planned survey days during the season?
A: Yes! We anticipate conducting surveys once every two weeks from June to October for ~8 total surveys. You are not required to volunteer for the whole season.
Q: What are the benefits of volunteering?
A: In addition to receiving a $150 honorarium and lodging the night before the survey, you will gain firsthand experience with field and laboratory marine science research. The data you will help collect contributes to a long-term dataset that helps us understand how fish populations may be changing over time in Oregon’s marine reserves and beyond. This data also improves the stock assessment accuracy for Oregon’s groundfish.
Volunteer Requirements:
- Must be 18 years or older
- Ability to transport self to and from the Port Orford Field Station
- Comfortable on small boats
- Comfortable performing supervised laboratory work (training provided)
- Ability to provide deck support for ~4 hours on the water and an additional 4-5 hours of wet lab support
Questions? Contact ODFW Marine Reserves Ecological Research Project Lead Moritz Schmid moritz.s.schmid@odfw.oregon.gov