Profession aquaculture rearing technician

Aquaculture rearing technicians operate in aquatic organisms' production. They are specialists in the rearing, weaning and production of juveniles.

Personality Type

• Enterprising / Realistic
• Realistic / Investigative

Knowledge

• Fish identification and classification

  The processes which allow the identification and classification of fish.

• 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.

• Plankton production

  The methods, characteristics and equipment used to cultivate phytoplankton, microalgae and live prey such as rotifers or Artemia with advanced techniques.

• 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.

• Aquaculture reproduction

  The techniques used to induce spawning, spawning on nests, stripping using appropriate techniques for specific species of fish, molluscs, crustaceans and others. The environmental control of spawning, the use of hormones to induce reproduction and the broodstock recruitment by genetic selection.

Skills

• Monitor water quality

  Measure water quality: temperature, oxygen, salinity, pH, N2, NO2,NH4, CO2, turbidity, chlorophyll. Monitor microbiological water quality.

• 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 capture broodstock operations

  Plan and conduct wild broodstock capture and quarantine wild broodstock if necessary. Monitor the collection of larvae or juveniles from environment. Control the use of appropriate techniques for the specific species i.e. fish, molluscs, crustaceans or others.

• Handle larval weaning process in nursery stage

  Carry out actions to raise species, such as gradually shift the nutrition of babies from live prey to dry substances.

• Maintain aquaculture water quality in hatcheries

  Measure flow of water in tanks and natural freshwater bodies. Measure parameters of water quality, such as pH, temperature, oxygen, salinity, CO2, N2, NO2, NH4, turbidity, and chlorophyll.

• Assess feeding behaviour of larvae

  Monitor feeding behaviour in order to decide on suitability of feed composition, weaning larvae from live prey to dry feed or pellets.

• Monitor fish health status

  Monitor the health of fish, based on feeding and general behaviour. Interpret environmental parameters and analyse mortalities.

• Maintain the production of juveniles at the nursery stage

  Maintain the production of juveniles at the nursery stage using advanced high density production techniques

• Condition broodstock

  Incubate eggs until hatching. Assess quality of eggs. Inspect fish eggs. Remove dead, unviable, and off-colour eggs using a suction syringe. Produce eyed eggs. Hatch and maintain new-born larvae.

• Maintain hatchery records

  Carefully maintain hatchery production records and inventory. Maintain accurate hatchery records including the preparation of health documents for the transport of juveniles.

• Cultivate plankton production

  Cultivate phytoplankton and microalgae. Cultivate live prey such as rotifers or Artemia with advanced techniques.

• Screen live fish deformities

  Screen for deformities in live fish including larvae

• Induce spawning of cultured aquaculture species

  Induce spawning using appropriate techniques for specific cultured species of fish, molluscs, crustaceans or others. Determine sexual maturity of broodstock, using appropriate techniques as indicated for cultured species of fish, molluscs and crustaceans. Control broodstock sexual cycle. Use hormones to induce reproduction.

• Carry out hatchery production processes

  Collect naturally spawned fish eggs, eliminate egg adhesiveness, incubate eggs until hatching, hatch and maintain newly born larvae, monitor larvae status, carry out early feeding and rearing techniques of the cultured species.

• Use aquacultural heating equipment

  Operate water heating and pump equipment as appropriate such as electrical heaters, heat exchangers, heat pumps, and solar pumps.

• 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.

• Feed broodstock

  Feed broodstock according to nutritional needs. This will initially include live prey such as rotifers and artemia.

• Use oxygenation equipment

  Operate different water oxygenation systems according to requirements: surface aerators, paddle wheel aerators, column/cascade aerators, and pure oxygenation systems.

• Monitor hatchery production

  Monitor and maintain hatchery production, monitoring stocks and movements.

• Maintain hatchery facilities

  Make minor repairs to hatchery facilities as required.

• Control aquatic production environment

  Assess the impact of biological conditions such as algae and fouling organisms by managing water intakes, catchments and oxygen use.

• Preserve fish samples for diagnosis

  Collect and preserve larval, fish and mollusc samples or lesions for diagnosis by fish disease specialists.

• Ensure compliance with aquaculture standards

  Ensure that operations comply with standards for sustainable aquaculture.

• Control fish diseases

  Identify the symptoms of fish diseases. Apply appropriate measures to treat or eliminate diagnosed conditions.

• Monitor fish mortality rates

  Monitor fish mortalities and assess possible causes.

• Use water disinfection equipment

  Operate equipment for water disinfection, using different methods and techniques, such as mechanical filtration, depending on needs.

• Maintain hatchery equipment

  Make minor repairs to hatchery equipment as required.

• Culture aquaculture hatchery stocks

  Use appropriate implements to collect shellfish spat. Sort wild shellfish spat. Collect naturally spawned fish eggs; eliminate egg adhesiveness and incubate eggs until hatched. Handle fish and shellfish broodstock and feed according to their needs.

• Carry out fish disease prevention measures

  Carry out disease prevention measures for fish, molluscs, and crustaceans for land-based and water-based aquaculture facilities.

Optional knowledge and skills

Source: Sisyphus ODB