In their own words: Daphne Scriven on interning with the fishes

This summer, the Coos Bay District hosted Daphne Scriven, an intern from the Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program.

The American Fisheries Society program places underrepresented high schoolers with participating agencies for a paid internship. Their goal is to stimulate interest in fisheries and aquatic science.

During her time with the BLM, Daphne got hands on experience with Oregon species, went surveying in the field, and worked with her mentor, Jeff Jackson, Fish Biologist. Read on to hear about her experience!

Tell us a little about yourself.

I grew up in Coos Bay and graduated from Marshfield High School in June 2024. In the fall, I am attending Weber State University in Ogden, Utah. I plan to study radiologic sciences, and I will also be on the track team for shotput, discus, and weighted hammer events.

What types of projects have you been working on this summer?

During my internship with the BLM, I’ve surveyed culverts, collected eDNA samples, and located trees for an instream restoration project. I went electrofishing with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to safely remove small mouth bass (an invasive species causing damage to native Chinook salmon) from the Coquille River. I also did fish salvage and set up trail cameras for an instream restoration project with the South Slough Estuary Research and Reserve.

Finally, I got to attend a four-day American Fisheries Society Hutton intern summit at the Charlie Elliot Center in Mansfield, Georgia, with 23 other Hutton interns. It was great to meet other interns from all over the country—my roommate was from Louisiana!

During the summit, I presented my work with the BLM. It was really interesting to hear all the different experiences, like hatchery work, going to remote locations, and marine biology work. It was an all-around great experience, and I got to meet a lot of people. 

What was your best experience?

My favorite part was electrofishing for small mouth bass with ODFW. I liked seeing the fish we caught. It was good to spend time with ODFW fish biologists, as they are very knowledgeable. One day we caught 589 small mouth bass! We also caught a striped bass.

What was the hardest work you did?

Definitely pulling invasive weeds with the Coquille Watershed Council. It was hot and difficult looking for holly and Scotch broom.

What are your plans after this summer?

I’m going to Weber State University to study ultrasonography and radiologic sciences. After getting my bachelor’s degree, I’d like to be a traveling nurse.

Has this internship sparked your interest in a natural resources or fisheries career?

Yes. I have always been interested in fisheries, and this internship was another way to get to experience in fisheries work. In high school, I organized two field trips with fifth grade classes to hatcheries through the Marshfield High School Science National Honors Society.

Would you recommend this internship to other high school students?

Yes, definitely! 

It has gotten me out of the house over the summer. I’ve gained new experiences and visited a lot of new places. I’ve met different people and am making connections I may need to engage with in the future.