Aquaculture husbandry manager

Aquaculture husbandry managers specialise in the husbandry of ongrowing aquatic species, especially in the feeding, growth, and stock management processes.

The following job titles also refer to aquaculture husbandry manager:

aquaculture on-growing manager
fish farm on-growing manager
aquatic animals husbandry manager
fish farm on-growing supervisor
aquaculture on-growing supervisor

Bachelor’s degree is generally required to work as aquaculture husbandry manager. 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 husbandry manager is a Skill level 4 occupation.

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

aquaculture recirculation manager
aquaculture production manager
aquaculture harvesting manager
aquaculture environmental analyst
ecologist

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

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of aquaculture husbandry manager.

Fish grading: The method of how fish are graded according to their different characteristics: specification, size, quality and condition.
Water currents: Understand impact of water currents on fish farms, in cages, ponds, lagoons and rivers.
Fish harvesting methods: Knowledge of up-to-date fish harvesting methods.
Animal welfare legislation: The legal boundaries, codes of professional conduct, national and EU regulatory frameworks and legal procedures of working with animals and living organisms, ensuring their welfare and health.
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.
Fish welfare regulations: The set of rules that apply in fish harvesting methods which ensure fish well-being.
Rates of growth assessment: The different methods used to evaluate the growth of most important cultivated species.
Aquaculture production planning software: The functioning principles and usage of a software dedicated to the planning of aquculture production.
Aquaculture cultivation equipment: Understand aquaculture cultivation equipment drawings and plans
Escapee contingency plans: The procedures to follow in case there are escapees from cage systems.
Husbandry and harvesting effects on aquatic resources: Understand husbandry and harvesting effects on aquatic resources, fish, molluscs and crustaceans.
Incidents and accidents recording: The methods to report and record incidents and accidents in the workplace.
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 husbandry manager.

Assess cage water quality: Analyse the quality of water by monitoring the state of temperature and oxygen, among other parameters.
Interpret scientific data to assess water quality: Analyse and interpret data like biological properties to know the quality of water.
Collaborate with animal related professionals: Collaborate with veterinary and other animal related professionals through communication of animal details, case records and summary reports orally or via written or electronic transfer.
Monitor fish mortality rates: Monitor fish mortalities and assess possible causes.
Monitor feeding systems: Make sure that feeders, feeding system and monitoring instruments are working. Analyse feedback from the instruments.
Supervise pest and disease control: Scout for pest damage, order pesticides as needed and within given budget, supervise mixing and application of pesticides, maintain records of pesticide application.
Maintain aquaculture equipment: Supervise and maintain aquaculture equipment and machinery, such as containment systems, lifting gear, transportation gear, disinfection equipment, heating equipment, oxygenation equipment, electrical equipment, air lift pumps, submersible pumps, live fish pumps, vacuum pumps.
Plan aquatic resources feeding regimes: Make the appropriate operations to ensure aquatic resources for feeding regimes, taking into consideration farming constraints:set up fish feeding regimes, check animal feeding behaviour and operate computerised feed systems.
Supervise waste disposal: Supervise disposal of biological waste and chemical waste according to regulations.
Ensure compliance with aquaculture standards: Ensure that operations comply with standards for sustainable aquaculture.
Develop fish health and welfare management plans: Develop a plan which lists risks from outdoor factors, such as predators, and pests.
Manage work: Supervise, instruct and plan work for teams or individual members of the team. Set up time schedules and make sure they are followed.
Identify risks in aquaculture facilities: Identify the hazards and evaluate the risks to health and safety in aquaculture facilities.
Monitor the use of resources in production: Observe and check the use of resources such as food, oxygen, energy, water in the production process.
Manage aquatic resources stock production: Set up a farm stock production spreadsheet and feed budget (feeding, growth, biomass, mortality, FCR, harvesting). Monitor and maintain stock production.
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.
Control aquatic production environment: Assess the impact of biological conditions such as algae and fouling organisms by managing water intakes, catchments and oxygen use.
Develop stock health programmes: Develop a health and welfare programme for those aquatic resources under cultivation, in consultation with the fish health specialist
Implement contingency plans for escapees: Carry out contingency plans for cage escapees. Carry out fish capture escape operations.
Ensure cage safety requirements are followed: Ensure that personnel comply with cage safety requirements.
Handle veterinary emergencies: Handle unforeseen incidents concerning animals and circumstances which call for urgent action in an appropriate professional manner.
Manage water flows and catchments: Manage water flows and catchments in ponds, lagoons and sluices.
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.
Ensure aquaculture personnel health and safety: Make sure that health and safety procedures have been established and followed across all aquaculture facilities including cages. Ensure that personnel and general public are instructed and all work activities are carried out according to relevant health and safety regulations.
Supervise waste water treatments: Supervise waste water treatment according to environmental regulations.
Calculate aquatic resources growth rate: Calculate and forecast growth rates. Monitor and assess growth and biomass taking mortality into account, based on the different methods of growth assessment.

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

Diving operation requirements: The operational plan and the contingency plan for the diving operation, the diving equipment to be used in the diving operation, the diving signals to be used in the diving operation, the in-water decompression procedures to be used in the diving operation, and any emergency procedures that might have to be used in the diving operation.
Code of conduct for responsible fisheries: Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries and the guidelines established for professional fishers.

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

Critique the dive with the dive team: Assess the dive with the dive team upon completion. Instruct the diver(s) so as to improve procedures and routines for future dives.
Deliver online training: Provide training by using online technologies, adapting the learning materials, using e-learning methods and communicating online. Instruct virtual classrooms.
Communicate verbal instructions: Communicate transparent instructions. Ensure that messages are understood and followed correctly.
Use a computer: Utilise computer equipment or digital devices to facilitate quality control, data management, and communication. Follow instructions given by a computer programme, create computer files or documents.
Speak different languages: Master foreign languages to be able to communicate in one or more foreign languages.
Identify training needs: Analyse the training problems and identify the training requirements of an organisation or individuals, so as to provide them with instruction tailored to their prior mastery, profile, means and problem.
Develop outreach training plans: Develop training plans for outreach and visitor service assistants, guides and volunteers.
Conduct fish mortality studies: Collect fish mortality data. Identify causes of mortality and provide solutions .
Evaluate training: Assess the realisation of the training’s learning outcomes and goals, the quality of teaching, and give transparent feedback to the trainers and trainees.
Use communication devices: Operate communication devices in order to interact with customers, colleagues, and others.
Perform diving interventions: Perform hyperbaric interventions at a maximum pressure of 4 atmospheres. Prepare and review the personal equipment and the auxiliary material; perform and supervise the dive; realise maintenance of the diving equipment and auxiliary material; apply the security measures to assure the divers security on the realisation of low deep immersions.
Organise training: Make the necessary preparations to conduct a training session. Provide equipment, supplies and exercise materials. Ensure the training runs smoothly.
Operate small craft: Operate small craft used for transport and feeding.
Maintain diving equipment: Perform maintenance actions, including small repairs, on diving equipment.
Prepare for small craft operation: Prepare for personnel operation of small craft, both with licence and without licence.
Check diving equipment: Check diving equipment for valid certification to ensure its suitability. Ensure that any diving equipment is examined by a competent person before use, at least once on each day on which it is to be used. Ensure that it is adequately tested and repaired.
Have computer literacy: Utilise computers, IT equipment and modern day technology in an efficient way.
Communicate by telephone: Liaise via telephone by making and answering calls in a timely, professional and polite manner.
Train employees: Lead and guide employees through a process in which they are taught the necessary skills for the perspective job. Organise activities aimed at introducing the work and systems or improving the performance of individuals and groups in organisational settings.
Operate an emergency communication system: Efficiently operate common communication systems used in emergencies, such as base station mobile transmitters and receivers, portable transmitters and receivers, repeaters, cellular phones, pagers, automated vehicle locators, and satellite phones as required.
Provide on-site training in aquaculture facilities: Provide on-site training in aquaculture facilities, through instruction and demonstration of skills. Provide, implement and supervise a training development plan.
Communicate in english in a competent way: Competent use of English; R351refers to level C1 in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

1312 – Aquaculture and fisheries production managers

 

 

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References

1. Aquaculture husbandry manager – ESCO