Profession aquaculture husbandry worker

Aquaculture husbandry workers are active in the production of aquatic organisms in land-based on-growing processes. They assist in the process of raising organisms through all stages of their life cycle.

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Personality Type

• Enterprising / Realistic
• Realistic / Investigative

Knowledge

• Biosecurity

  Be aware of the general principles of the concept of bio-security and in particular, the disease prevention rules to be implemented in case of epidemics endangering public health.

• Rope manipulation

  Rope manipulation which relates to knotting and splicing.

Skills

• Maintain aquaculture water quality in hatcheries

  Measure flow of water in tanks and natural freshwater bodies. Measure parameters of water quality, such as pH, temperature, oxygen, salinity, CO2, N2, NO2, NH4, turbidity, and chlorophyll.

• Monitor fish health status

  Monitor the health of fish, based on feeding and general behaviour. Interpret environmental parameters and analyse mortalities.

• Transport fish

  Transport live and harvested fish, molluscs, crustaceans from farm to client.

• Collect dead fish

  Gather dead fish in recipients like tanks and cages.

• Load equipment

  Handle safe loading of equipment in given restrictive conditions.

• Prepare fish holding units

  Prepare fish holding units to receive fish. Conduct swim throughs.

• Carry out feeding operations

  Carry out manual feeding. Calibrate and operate automatic and computerised feeding systems.

• Follow hygienic practices in fishery operations

  Comply with the right regulations and practices for hygienically handling fishery related tasks and responsibilities in fishery operations.

• Work in shifts

  Work in rotating shifts, where the goal is to keep a service or production line running around the clock and each day of the week.

• Clean aquaculture stock units

  Clean and disinfect equipment and treatment systems, as well as holding units such as tanks.

• Collect biological data

  Collect biological specimens, record and summarise biological data for use in technical studies, developing environmental management plans and biological products.

• Perform fish grading operations

  Gather live fish using techniques which minimise the stress caused to fish and avoid fish escapes occurring. Grade them manually or using equipment. Report on the grading operation, ensuring compliance with specifications.

• Use oxygenation equipment

  Operate different water oxygenation systems according to requirements: surface aerators, paddle wheel aerators, column/cascade aerators, and pure oxygenation systems.

• Maintain aquaculture containers

  Clean and disinfect equipment and treatment systems. Drain and clean aquaculture tanks and troughs using brushes, chemicals, and water. Prepare fish holding units to receive fish and change nets. Conduct swimthroughs. Stock fish in holding units. Collect dead fish in holding units.

• Maintain aquaculture ponds

  Clean equipment and treatment tools. Drain and clean aquaculture ponds using brushes, chemicals, and water. Prepare holding containers for fish and change the nets. Conduct swimthroughs. Stock fish in holding units. Collect dead fish in holding units.

• Operate fish capture equipment

  Operate fish capture equipment, for grading, sampling or harvesting purposes.

• Collect growth rate information

  Collect information on growth rate in farm aquatic species.

• Carry out preparations for fish disease specialist

  Prepare environment and equipment for fish disease specialist treatments, including vaccination treatments.

• Operate biological filtration

  Operate biological filtration in aquaculture facilities.

• Manure aquaculture ponds

  Manure aquaculture ponds

• Maintain aquaculture water quality

  Maintain water quality in ponds, lagoons and sluices.

• Identity aquaculture species

  Identity major European farmed fish, shellfish and crustacean species.

• Use aquaculture heavy equipment

  Perform manual operations such as manually lift, transfer position and set down a load. Operate lifting gear such as winch, sea crane, telescopic loader, and forklift.

• Carry out maintenance of aquaculture equipment

  Maintain aquaculture equipment and identify equipment needs. Carry out routine maintenance and minor repairs as needed.

• Collect fish samples for diagnosis

  Collect fish and shellfish samples for diagnosis by fish diseases specialists.

• Measure the impact of specific aquaculture activity

  Identify and measure the biological, physico-chemical impacts of specific aquaculture farm activity on the environment. Carry out all necessary tests, including collection and processing of samples for analysis.

• Monitor water quality

  Measure water quality: temperature, oxygen, salinity, pH, N2, NO2,NH4, CO2, turbidity, chlorophyll. Monitor microbiological water quality.

• Stock fish into holding units

  Stock fish into holding units and maintain good environmental condition within the holding unit.

• Measure water flow

  Measure water flow, water intakes and catchments.

• Screen live fish deformities

  Screen for deformities in live fish including larvae

• Unload equipment

  Handle safe unloading of equipment in given restrictive conditions.

• Assist with vaccination procedures

  Assist skilled professional with immersions and injection vaccination procedures.

• Operate forklift

  Operate a forklift, a vehicle with a pronged device in front for lifting and carrying heavy loads.

• Follow safety precautions in fishery operations

  Comply with policies and institutional regulations to guarantee a safe workplace for employees in fishery and aquaculture operations. Deal with potential risks and dangers by taking appropriate safety measures.

• Use water disinfection equipment

  Operate equipment for water disinfection, using different methods and techniques, such as mechanical filtration, depending on needs.

Optional knowledge and skills

Source: Sisyphus ODB