Sara Bunker has worked as a data manager for Ocean Peace Inc. for 5 years. She loves being out to sea and spends about 200 days a year on the F/T Alaska Victory fishing mostly in the Aleutian Islands for Atka Mackerel and Pacific Ocean Perch, as well as Bering Sea Yellowfin and Gulf of Alaska Rockfish. On the vessel she uses her expertise to manage fishing quota and bycatch, where she enjoys working closely with observers, using their data to advise fishing operations, maximize product recovery and ensure the vessel is within safety and compliance regulations. She is also the first responding medical officer, oversees quality control, IT support, human resources, counselor and is the resident boat mom. Growing up in Northern Utah her childhood was spent outside catching critters and exploring the mountains and rivers, sparking a love and wonder of all things in the natural world. A move to the Pacific Northwest in 2011 and a new scuba hobby ignited a deep fascination of marine ecosystems. After gaining bachelor’s degree from the University of Washington in Aquatic and Fishery Science and a new dream of seeing Alaska, she started working as a North Pacific Groundfish Observer in 2018. She sailed on vessels in the longline, A80 and AFA fleet and participated in a longline sablefish survey in Southeast Alaska during her tenure as an observer. She is a scientific diver and has worked on research projects in the waters of the Puget Sound, San Juan Islands and Turks and Caicos. She spends her time off hiking, skiing, scuba diving, fossil hunting and traveling, but is always happiest with a dog by her side.