Water-based aquaculture technician

Description

Water-based aquaculture technicians coordinate and supervise activities on fattening aquaculture organisms in suspended systems (floating or submerged structures). They participate in extraction operations and handling organisms for commercialisation. Water-based aquaculture technicians supervise maintenance of equipment and facilities (cages, rafts, longlines, bouchot).

Other titles

The following job titles also refer to water-based aquaculture technician:

water-based fish farm technician
water-based fisheries technician
technician in water-based aquaculture

ISCO skill level

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.

Water-based aquaculture technician is a Skill level 2 occupation.

Water-based aquaculture technician career path

Similar occupations

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to water-based aquaculture technician.

aquaculture husbandry technician
aquaculture harvesting technician
aquaculture cage technician
aquaculture husbandry worker
aquaculture hatchery technician

Long term prospects

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

aquaculture site supervisor
aquaculture quality supervisor
aviation data communications manager
international forwarding operations coordinator
fisheries observer

Essential knowledge and skills

Essential knowledge

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of water-based aquaculture technician.

  • Fish grading: The method of how fish are graded according to their different characteristics: specification, size, quality and condition.
  • 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.
  • 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 aquaculture production.
  • Computerised feeding systems: The functioning of computer controlled systems that provide animal feeding.

Essential skills and competences

These skills are necessary for the role of water-based aquaculture technician.

Optional knowledge and skills

Optional knowledge

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

Optional skills and competences

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of water-based aquaculture technician. 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Report live online: Given an account of a situation in real-time via online technologies when covering important events, especially on national newspapers.
  • Maintain incident reporting records: Keep a system to record details of unusual events that occur at the facility, such as job-related injuries.
  • Use different communication channels: Make use of various types of communication channels such as verbal, handwritten, digital and telephonic communication with the purpose of constructing and sharing ideas or information.
  • Communicate in an outdoor setting: Communicate with participants in more than one language of the European Union; handle a crisis following guidelines and recognise the importance of proper behaviour in crisis situations.
  • Use communication devices: Operate communication devices in order to interact with customers, colleagues, and others.
  • Screen live fish deformities: Screen for deformities in live fish including larvae
  • 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.
  • Manage time in fishery operations: Ensure an efficient management of work schedules meant for fishery and aquaculture activities.
  • Maintain diving equipment: Perform maintenance actions, including small repairs, on diving equipment.
  • Work in inclement conditions: Work outdoors in hot or cold circumstances.
  • Report pollution incidents: Examine the extent of the damage and consequences when an incident causes pollution, and report it to the relevant institution following pollution reporting procedures.
  • 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.
  • Report to the team leader: Keep the team leader informed on current and emerging issues.
  • 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).

ISCO group and title

6221 – Aquaculture workers


References
  1. Water-based aquaculture technician – ESCO
Last updated on October 28, 2022

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