Aquaculture harvesting worker

Aquaculture harvesting workers work in the harvesting of those aquatic organisms cultured in land-based on-growing processes.

The following job titles also refer to aquaculture harvesting worker:

aquatic animals harvesting worker
fish farming harvesting worker
harvesting worker

No formal educational credential is generally required to work as aquaculture harvesting worker. However, this requirement may differ in some countries.

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

• the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
• the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
• the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Aquaculture harvesting worker is a Skill level 1 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to aquaculture harvesting worker.

water-based aquaculture worker
aquaculture cage mooring worker
leaflet distributor
fruit and vegetable picker
aircraft groomer

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of aquaculture harvesting worker. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of aquaculture harvesting worker with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

aquaculture harvesting technician
aquaculture husbandry worker
aquaculture cage technician
water-based aquaculture technician
aquaculture husbandry technician

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of aquaculture harvesting worker.

• Rope manipulation: Rope manipulation which relates to knotting and splicing.
• Fish welfare regulations: The set of rules that apply in fish harvesting methods which ensure fish well-being.
• 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.

These skills are necessary for the role of aquaculture harvesting worker.

• Handle fish harvesting waste: Dispose of waste, blood and inferior quality fish according to site waste management procedures.
• Follow hygienic practices in fishery operations: Comply with the right regulations and practices for hygienically handling fishery related tasks and responsibilities in fishery operations.
• Collect dead fish: Gather dead fish in recipients like tanks and cages.
• Monitor fish mortality rates: Monitor fish mortalities and assess possible causes.
• Set up fish harvesting equipment: Set up fish harvesting equipment for the efficient slaughter of the fish and subsequent storage.
• Measure water quality parameters: Quality assure water by taking into consideration various elements, such as temperature.
• Identity aquaculture species: Identity major European farmed fish, shellfish and crustacean species.
• 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.
• Operate fish capture equipment: Operate fish capture equipment, for grading, sampling or harvesting purposes.
• 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.
• Screen live fish deformities: Examine live fish, including larvae, to detect deformities related to body shape, jaw deformity, vertebral deformity and skeletal deformity. If not detected, these could lead to risks for fish, such as swimming performance, feed efficiency, limit of the feed, infectious disease and lethality.
• Prepare aquatic animals for harvesting: Grade fish, molluscs, crustaceans manually and using equipment in preparation for harvesting.
• Carry out preparations for fish disease specialist: Prepare environment and equipment for fish disease specialist treatments, including vaccination treatments.
• Maintain fish harvesting equipment: Clean and store fish harvesting equipment after use.
• Harvest aquatic resources: Grade fish, molluscs, crustaceans manually and using equipment in preparation for harvesting. Harvest shellfish for human consumption. Harvest live fish for live transport. Harvest all species in a humane manner. Handle harvested fish in a manner which maintains flesh quality.
• Carry out humane harvesting practices: Harvest and slaughter fish at sea or fish farms in a human way for human consumption.
• Transport fish: Capture, load, transport, unload and stock live and harvested fish, molluscs, crustaceans from farm to client. Maintain water quality during transport to reduce stress.
• Handle harvested fish: Handle harvested fish in a manner which maintains flesh quality. Effectively store fish in chilled storage.
• 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.
• Measure water flow: Measure water flow, water intakes and catchments.

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of aquaculture harvesting worker. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Fish harvesting methods: Knowledge of up-to-date fish harvesting methods.
• Fish identification and classification: The processes which allow the identification and classification of fish.
• Operation of transport equipment: Use of transportation gear, such as car, forklift, truck, tractor, trailer, convoy.

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of aquaculture harvesting worker. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Work in outdoor conditions: Can cope with the different climate conditions such as heat, rain, cold or in strong wind.
• Communicate verbal instructions: Communicate transparent instructions. Ensure that messages are understood and followed correctly.
• Monitor feeding behaviour: Monitor feeding behaviour of farm animals. Collect information on the growth of the animals, and forecast future growth. Monitor and assess biomass taking mortality into account.
• Undertake continuous professional development in fishery operations: Initiate and progress in life long learning of the different challenging activities and operations which take place on board of a fishing vessel or in an aquaculture facility.
• Use communication devices: Operate communication devices in order to interact with customers, colleagues, and others.
• Operate small craft: Operate small craft used for transport and feeding.
• Work in inclement conditions: Work outdoors in hot or cold circumstances.
• Work as a team: Cooperate with colleagues in order to ensure that operations run effectively.
• Prepare for small craft operation: Prepare for personnel operation of small craft, both with licence and without licence.
• Communicate by telephone: Liaise via telephone by making and answering calls in a timely, professional and polite manner.
• Swim: Move through water by means of the limbs.
• Implement fin fish feeding regimes: Implement daily fin fish feeding regimes to take account of environmental variations. Check feeding regimes are followed through the accurate implementation of feeding procedures. Implement adjustments to feeding regimes to take account of fluctuations in production performance and variations in environmental conditions. Control specialist feeding regimes to support specified production requirements. Investigate changes in feeding behaviour to determine cause and required corrective action.
• Report to the team leader: Keep the team leader informed on current and emerging issues.

9216 – Fishery and aquaculture labourers

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References

1. ESCO