Spotlight Living the Dream: How to Get a Job in Aquaculture

Welcome to the wonderful world of fish farms!

Found in both marine water and freshwater, on open ocean and on land, aquaculture is the farming of aquatic organisms.

According to USA Aquaculture, this growing industry is responsible for 50% of edible seafood around the world. Although products from aquaculture are most often food, recreational, ornamental, and medicinal products can also be cultivated.

What types of jobs are available in aquaculture?

Aquaculture workers include scientific technicians, engineers, and fish farm managers. In general, they hatch and tend fish eggs, maintain a controlled living environment for aquatic organisms, and release aquatic organisms into bodies of waters or sell them to private fisheries.

Most people who go into aquaculture are passionate about fish, environmental stewardship, and animal care. Here are a few examples of aquaculture occupations, although there are many others.

General Hand
Most people starting out in aquaculture find work as a general hand, an assistant-level position, at a fish farm. Their tasks often include fish filleting, farm maintenance, administration, and marketing.

Field Hand
Depending on the area of work, a field hand is responsible for activities such as feeding and harvesting stock, vehicle or equipment operation, and chemical application.

Skilled Worker
Experienced workers often take a leadership role as a skilled worker and are involved in some team coordination and decision making. Their tasks can range from constructing farm structures to handling and maintaining stock culture.

Aquaculture Specialist
Often trained in business management, aquaculture specialists maintain a fish farm office and oversee various programs and harvests.

Aquaculture Manager
Responsible for fish farm operational oversight, aquaculture managers have many technical tasks, such as developing farm nutrition programs or designing water supply and disposal systems.

Fisheries Officer or Bailiff
Involved on the regulatory side of aquaculture, fisheries officers can be employed by government organizations or private fisheries. Their objective is to monitor fishing activity and stop illegal fishing activities. They may also be involved in import and export rules and regulations for livestock or other products needed for farming.

Fisheries Biologist
Often acting as consultants to fisheries and fish farms, fisheries biologists monitor environmental issues and fish stock health by conducting surveys of fish disease and water quality. They advise on best practices according to environmental regulations.

Environmental Sciences Lecturer
Working in universities, colleges, and aquariums, academics perform various tasks such as teach students about aquaculture, conduct research in their specialization area, and translate science, research, and data into public and media-friendly content.

Whichever route you choose, whether on-farm jobs or careers in academia or government, be forewarned most aquaculture careers are spent in remote rural areas near riverbanks or coastlines.


Where to find work in aquaculture

Although many aquaculture positions are found at fish farms, aquariums, universities, and government organizations, there are many other types of companies where people find work in the industry. Some examples are commercial fisheries, aqua biotech companies, and food companies.

Aquaculture is a global industry with available positions around the world from entry-level to specialist to university fellow. Websites like World Aquaculture Society and Aquaculture Talent allow you to browse job postings, create a profile, and post your resume. They also provide instructive articles and links to additional aquaculture job sites to help you find your perfect job.

What qualifications do you need to work in aquaculture?

There are no formal requirements for entry-level aquaculture positions. However, it’s a competitive industry so it’s a good idea to study fisheries management, business administration, or environmental science depending on your area of interest.

Many higher-level on-farm jobs require specialized skills in technology, science, and communications. While some fish farms offer on-the-job training, combining experience with education and additional training will help you get ahead in your career. Many post-graduate institutes offer training in fields providing useful adjacent skills, such as research and development, engineering, and environmental management.

The higher up you go in aquaculture, the more specialized you need to be. Working with particular species requires specific knowledge and skills so the sooner you can specialize, the better. Many aquaculture occupations require continued formal training and on-the-job upgrading and are often well-paying, year-round positions.


About the Author: Robyn Roste



With more than 10 years of experience in writing, marketing, and audio editing, Robyn Roste’s experience combines new media, broadcast media, journalism, public relations, and social media. She has a Bachelor of Journalism and loves learning new things and helping people understand complex subjects. Robyn recently won a prize from the Professional Writers Association of Canada (PWAC) and was shortlisted for a Literary Arts Award in British Columbia.

Now living in British Columbia, Canada’s beautiful Fraser Valley, Robyn enjoys rural living even if it means running into the occasional wild animal. When there’s spare time, Robyn and her husband travel to places where they can snorkel and see the fish from The Blue Planet for themselves.