Profession aquatic animal health professional

Aquatic animal health professionals diagnose, prevent and treat diseases, injuries and dysfunctions of aquatic animals by implementing appropriate sampling protocols. They supervise the use of medicines, including vaccines, and collect data on fish health, making regular reports to the appropriate personnel. They may provide care to a wide range of aquatic animals or specialise  in the treatment of a particular group or in a particular speciality area. They may provide advice, support and training to farm staff on best practice with regard to the health and welfare of the cultured organisms.

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Personality Type

• Investigative / Realistic

Knowledge

• Molecular biology

  The interactions between the various systems of a cell, the interactions between the different types of genetic material and how these interactions are regulated.

• Ecology

  The study of how organisms interact and their relation to the ambient environment.

• Microbiology-bacteriology

  Microbiology-Bacteriology is a medical specialty mentioned in the EU Directive 2005/36/EC.

• Applied zoology

  The science of applying animal anatomy, physiology, ecology, and behaviour in a particular practical context.

• Scientific research methodology

  The theoretical methodology used in scientific research involving doing background research, constructing an hypothesis, testing it, analysing data and concluding the results.

• Fish anatomy

  The study of the form or morphology of fish species.

• Laboratory techniques

  Techniques applied in the different fields of natural science in order to obtain experimental data such as gravimetric analysis, gas chromatography, electronic or thermic methods.

• Aquatic species

  The care and maintenance of aquatic biological species.

• Fish biology

  The study of fish, shellfish or crustacean organisms, categorized into many specialised fields that cover their morphology, physiology, anatomy, behaviour, origins and distribution.

• Biology

  Tissues, cells, and functions of plant and animal organisms and their interdependencies and interactions with each other and the environment.

• 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.

• Botany

  The taxonomy or classification of plant life, phylogeny and evolution, anatomy and morphology, and physiology.

• Virology

  The structure, characteristics, evolution and interactions of viruses and the diseases they cause.

• Biotechnology in aquaculture

  Biotechnology and polymerase chain reactions for studies in sustainable aquaculture production methods.

• Fish identification and classification

  The processes which allow the identification and classification of fish.

Skills

• Monitor treated fish

  Monitor treated fish to evaluate the effect of treatments.

• Conserve natural resources

  Protect waters and natural resources and coordinate actions. Work with environmental agencies and resource management personnel.

• Write work-related reports

  Compose work-related reports that support effective relationship management and a high standard of documentation and record keeping. Write and present results and conclusions in a clear and intelligible way so they are comprehensible to a non-expert audience.

• Communicate specialised veterinary information

  Communicate the relevance of and the advances in the area of specialisation to general practice veterinarians and to non-veterinarians.

• Write routine reports

  Compose routine reports; identify appropriate forms or documents to record data from manual inspections and/or electronic systems. Write clear observations as required. A written report is usually a summary of readings from the routine performance of the reticulation system.

• Administer treatments to fish

  Administer treatments to fish, including vaccination of fish by immersion and injection, continually monitoring fish for signs of stress.

• Handle the disposal of chemicals

  Dispose of chemicals and treatments safely according to site waste management procedures.

• Maintain aquaculture treatment records

  Provide accurate information to maintain records of treatments applied.

• Collect fish samples for diagnosis

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

• Develop aquaculture strategies

  Cultivate strategies for aquaculture plans based on reports and research in order to deal with specific fish farm issues. Plan and organise work activities in order to improve aquaculture production and tackle further problems.

• Conduct fish mortality studies

  Collect fish mortality data. Identify causes of mortality and provide solutions .

• 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.

• Preserve fish samples for diagnosis

  Collect and preserve larval, fish and mollusc samples or lesions for diagnosis by fish disease specialists.

• Communicate technicalities with clients

  Communicate with and support clients and veterinarians in case of problems. Provide feedback to production and management.

• Perform scientific research

  Gain, correct or improve knowledge about phenomena by using scientific methods and techniques, based on empirical or measurable observations.

• Control aquatic production environment

  Assess the impact of biological conditions such as algae and fouling organisms by managing water intakes, catchments and oxygen use.

• Perform field research

  Participate in field research and evaluation of state and private lands and waters.

• Prepare fish treatment facilities

  Prepare fish treatment facilities to effectively isolate contaminated fish during treatment. Control the application of treatments to avoid contaminating other stock, containers and the wider environment.

• Conduct fish populations studies

  Study captive fish populations to determine survival, growth, and migration.

• Prepare visual data

  Prepare charts and graphs in order to present data in a visual manner.

• Implement scientific decision making in healthcare

  Implement scientific findings for evidence-based practice, integrating research evidence into decision making by forming a focused clinical question in response to a recognised information need, searching for the most appropriate evidence to meet that need, critically appraising the retrieved evidence, incorporating the evidence into a strategy for action, and evaluating the effects of any decisions and actions taken.

• Conduct research on fauna

  Collect and analyse data about animal life in order to discover the basic aspects such as origin, anatomy, and function.

• Prepare fish treatment plan

  Prepare health treatment plans to meet specific fish disease requirements.

• Apply scientific methods

  Apply scientific methods and techniques to investigate phenomena, by acquiring new knowledge or correcting and integrating previous knowledge.

• Collect biological data

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

• Inspect fish stock

  Collect and examine fish to evaluate the health of fish stock.

• Use specialised equipment

  Use specialised equipment such as electron microscope, telemetry, digital imaging analysis, global positioning systems, and computer modelling in studies and analyses of production methodology.

• Send biological samples to laboratory

  Forward collected biological samples to the concerned laboratory, following strict procedures related to the labeling and tracking of the information on the samples.

• Monitor water quality

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

• Diagnose aquatic animals disease symptoms

  Observe and describe symptoms and lesions of fish, molluscs, and crustaceans. Monitor abnormal fish behaviour in feeding, swimming, and surfacing.

• Analyse work-related written reports

  Read and comprehend job-related reports, analyse the content of reports and apply findings to daily work operations.

• Gather experimental data

  Collect data resulting from the application of scientific methods such as test methods, experimental design or measurements.

• Monitor fish mortality rates

  Monitor fish mortalities and assess possible causes.

• Carry out fish disease prevention measures

  Carry out disease prevention measures for fish, molluscs, and crustaceans for land-based and water-based aquaculture facilities.

• Keep task records

  Organise and classify records of prepared reports and correspondence related to the performed work and progress records of tasks.

• Analyse fish samples for diagnosis

  Analyse samples or lesions from farmed aquatic species for professional diagnosis and treatments.

• Assess fish health condition

  Identify and prepare fish condition for the safe application of treatments.

• Perform laboratory tests

  Carry out tests in a laboratory to produce reliable and precise data to support scientific research and product testing.

• Control fish diseases

  Identify the symptoms of fish diseases. Apply appropriate measures to treat or eliminate diagnosed conditions.

• Conduct research on flora

  Collect and analyse data about plants in order to discover their basic aspects such as origin, anatomy, and function.

Optional knowledge and skills

Source: Sisyphus ODB