Aquaculture Technician

Aquaculture facilities are popping up all over the world in an effort to increase food supply for human consumption, produce marketable products, and increase the populations of fish and other animals in the wild. Fisheries and animal farms are the most common types of aquaculture facilities. It is the job of Aquaculture Technicians to monitor, feed, research, and care for animals at one of these facilities.

Fisheries trap many types of fish and monitor their reproduction. This process increases the number of certain types of fish released back into the wild. In addition, it vastly improves the supply of fish available for human consumption. Besides fish, a host of other animals, such as turtles, shellfish, eels, oysters, and algae, are now being cared for on animal farms.

Whether the goal is to release large numbers of fish back into rivers and streams, or produce high yields of shrimp for the dinner table, Aquaculture Technicians have both hands in the process every step of the way. They monitor the delivery of trapped animals, and care for them at the facility. They measure water temperature, bacteria levels, and depth to create the proper environment for the animals. They also test for disease, provide food, move animals from one tank to another as they grow, and process them when it’s time to leave the facility.

Along the way, Aquaculture Technicians carefully record each feeding, reproduction, relocation, health status, and treatment. To ensure that the animals get the best possible care, they work with Aquaculture Biologists in researching prime reproduction requirements and disease treatments.