Aquaculture Technician Jobs

Successful fish farms do not run themselves and managers are generally not able to perform all the tasks required at such facilities.

Aquaculture technicians perform the daily tasks and go by various job titles. Aquaculturists, breeding managers and fish technicians are typical examples.

For all these job titles, the main work description is to care for the aquatic species in their charge. Monitoring the species environment and maintaining those conditions to optimize their health and meet production goals is the technician’s ultimate responsibility at their respective facility.

Scientific observation skills are of utmost importance to the technician. Simple items, such as maintaining optimum water temperature and clarity or ensuring the proper volume of water in a raceway or pond are typical tasks.

Experimentation skills are also vital in the technician role. Optimizing any and all living conditions for an aquatic species, such as the food they eat and the water they live in, are subject to investigation for the purpose of protecting the species and producing healthy products.

Other technician tasks, especially for those individuals just starting off, may be cleaning their facility or fixing equipment.

The schooling required for an aquaculture technician varies based on the specific job.

Some roles only require a high school diploma. Other jobs, with raised amounts of responsibility, require a master’s degree in aquaculture, fisheries or biology. Accordingly, bachelor’s degrees are accepted if accompanied with several years experience in a relevant field. Examples would be time spent rearing fish in a hatchery or working an entry level position at a fish farm, monitoring water quality or assisting with the design of water recirculation systems.

Aquaculture technicians can expect to start earning around US$30,000 annually, with median salaries approaching US$50,000. Generally as a salaried position, the technician salary additionally will include medical benefits, paid vacation and sick leave. Earnings estimates will vary based on geographical location, responsibilities, experience and employer.

Regardless of the title, an aquaculture technician must enjoy working with fish, marine plants and other aquatic organisms. The person must be able to perform duties in a wide range of environments, from indoor tank facilities to outdoors in ponds or the ocean. Patience and persistence are valued traits in this role, as experimentation, keen observation and general scientific skills are necessary to record and decipher the health of the technician’s area of responsibility.