What skills does a water-based aquaculture worker need?

A water-based aquaculture worker needs 36 essential skills including rope manipulation, fish welfare regulations, pedagogy, operation of lifting gears, operation of transport equipment. Core competencies include .

Will AI replace water-based aquaculture worker jobs?

The AI disruption score for water-based aquaculture worker is 23/100 (low risk). Some tasks may be automated but the role will evolve rather than disappear entirely.

Agriculture & EnvironmentAgricultural, forestry and fishery labourersISCO 9216

water-based aquaculture worker

Water-based aquaculture workers carry out manual activities in the ongrowing processes of cultured aquatic organisms in water-based suspended systems (floating or submerged structures). They participate in extraction operations and the handling of organisms for commercialisation. Water-based aquaculture workers maintain and clean facilities (nets, mooring ropes, cages).

European Skills Framework

Skills and knowledge areas required for this occupation based on European classification.

Essential (36)

rope manipulationrope manipulationRope manipulation which relates to knotting and splicing.fish welfare regulationsfish welfare regulationsThe set of rules that apply in fish harvesting methods which ensure fish well-being.pedagogypedagogyThe discipline that concerns the theory and practice of education including the various instructional methods for educating individuals or groups.operation of lifting gearsoperation of lifting gearsThe methods used to operate different types of lifting gears, such as winches, telescopic loaders, sea cranes, forklift trucks.operation of transport equipmentoperation of transport equipmentUse of transportation gear, such as car, forklift, truck, tractor, trailer, convoy.assess cage water qualityassess cage water qualityAnalyse the quality of water by monitoring the state of temperature and oxygen, among other parameters.depurate shellfishdepurate shellfishPlace shellfish into large tanks of clean water that is continuously disinfected to allow purging of physical impurities.collect dead fishcollect dead fishGather dead fish in recipients like tanks and cages.monitor aquaculture stock health standardsmonitor aquaculture stock health standardsPerform activities that ensure monitoring and implementation of aquaculture health standards and health analysis of the fish population.work in a fishery teamwork in a fishery teamWork as part of a crew or team, and meet team deadlines and responsibilities together.maintain waterbased aquaculture facilitiesmaintain waterbased aquaculture facilitiesClean off fouling and maintain floating and submerged aquaculture structures. Repair floating and submerged aquaculture structures.stock fishstock fishPlace fish into holding units. Maintain adequate environmental conditions within the unit.measure water quality parametersmeasure water quality parametersQuality assure water by taking into consideration various elements, such as temperature.prepare fish treatment facilitiesprepare fish treatment facilitiesPrepare fish treatment facilities to effectively isolate contaminated fish during treatment. Control the application of treatments to avoid contaminating other stock, containers and the wider environm...observe abnormal fish behaviourobserve abnormal fish behaviourObserve, describe and monitor abnormal fish behaviour in respect of feeding, swimming, surfacing.measure the impact of specific aquaculture activitymeasure the impact of specific aquaculture activityIdentify 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 fo...preserve fish samples for diagnosispreserve fish samples for diagnosisCollect and preserve larval, fish and mollusc samples or lesions for diagnosis by fish disease specialists.perform fish grading operationsperform fish grading operationsGather 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 complianc...collect growth rate informationcollect growth rate informationCollect information on growth rate in farm aquatic species.operate fish capture equipmentoperate fish capture equipmentOperate fish capture equipment, for grading, sampling or harvesting purposes.collect live fishcollect live fishGather fish using techniques which minimise the stress caused to fish and avoid fish escapes occurring.carry out fish disease prevention measurescarry out fish disease prevention measuresCarry out disease prevention measures for fish, molluscs, and crustaceans for land-based and water-based aquaculture facilities.maintain shellfish depuration equipmentmaintain shellfish depuration equipmentMaintain all utensils, equipment and work surfaces in clean condition. Disinfect frequently tanks with chlorine or other disinfecting agents approved by State regulatory authorities.transfer fishtransfer fishTransfer fully grown fish to a body of water, using a tank truck.carry out preparations for fish disease specialistcarry out preparations for fish disease specialistPrepare environment and equipment for fish disease specialist treatments, including vaccination treatments.operate small craftoperate small craftOperate small craft used for transport and feeding.prepare fish holding unitsprepare fish holding unitsClean the holding unit before receiving fish. Determine the water volume and flow rate. Prevent leaks. Conduct swim through.harvest aquatic resourcesharvest aquatic resourcesGrade 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 hu...transport fishtransport fishCapture, load, transport, unload and stock live and harvested fish, molluscs, crustaceans from farm to client. Maintain water quality during transport to reduce stress.prepare for small craft operationprepare for small craft operationPrepare for personnel operation of small craft, both with licence and without licence.collect fish samples for diagnosiscollect fish samples for diagnosisCollect fish and shellfish samples for diagnosis by fish diseases specialists.collect biological datacollect biological dataCollect biological specimens, record and summarise biological data for use in technical studies, developing environmental management plans and biological products.carry out fish transportationcarry out fish transportationCan manually lift, transfer, position and set down a load, using lifting gears such as forklifts, winches, sea cranes and others. Can operate equipment used in the transportation of fish, shellfish, c...swimswimMove through water by means of the limbs.measure water flowmeasure water flowMeasure water flow, water intakes and catchments.operate hatchery traysoperate hatchery traysFill hatchery trays with fertilised eggs and place trays in incubation troughs.

Optional (21)

fishing industryfishing industryThe business model of the fishing industry, including recreational, subsistence and commercial fishing, and the harvesting, processing, and marketing sectors.fish identification and classificationfish identification and classificationThe processes which allow the identification and classification of fish.animal welfare legislationanimal welfare legislationThe 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.fishing gearfishing gearIdentification of the different gear used in capture fisheries and their functional capacity.environmental legislationenvironmental legislationThe environmental policies and legislation applicable in a certain domain.fish biologyfish biologyThe study of fish, shellfish or crustacean organisms, categorized into many specialised fields that cover their morphology, physiology, anatomy, behaviour, origins and distribution.fish anatomyfish anatomyThe study of the form or morphology of fish species.monitor fish mortality ratesmonitor fish mortality ratesMonitor fish mortalities and assess possible causes.apply fish harvest methodsapply fish harvest methodsApply fish harvest methods effectively and in a manner which minimises the stress caused to fish. Slaughter the fish in a humane manner.set up fish harvesting equipmentset up fish harvesting equipmentSet up fish harvesting equipment for the efficient slaughter of the fish and subsequent storage.maintain internal communication systemsmaintain internal communication systemsMaintain an effective internal communication system among employees and department managers.communicate in an outdoor settingcommunicate in an outdoor settingCommunicate 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 devicesuse communication devicesOperate communication devices in order to interact with customers, colleagues, and others.screen live fish deformitiesscreen live fish deformitiesExamine 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 a...perform diving interventionsperform diving interventionsPerform 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 th...maintain diving equipmentmaintain diving equipmentPerform maintenance actions, including small repairs, on diving equipment.maintain fish harvesting equipmentmaintain fish harvesting equipmentClean and store fish harvesting equipment after use.check diving equipmentcheck diving equipmentCheck 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 ...handle harvested fishhandle harvested fishHandle harvested fish in a manner which maintains flesh quality. Effectively store fish in chilled storage.communicate by telephonecommunicate by telephoneLiaise via telephone by making and answering calls in a timely, professional and polite manner.collect broodstockcollect broodstockSource broodstock from fisheries and held them in maturation tanks before collecting their seeds.