Agriculture & EnvironmentISCO 6221
Aquaculture hatchery technician
An aquaculture hatchery technician is a person who operates and controls every process involved in hatching fish and shellfish, from managing the broodstock through to rearing the juveniles. The hatchery is the first stage of the aquaculture production cycle.
Check yourself in a minute: aquaculture hatchery technician
Rate 5 of the 30 essential skills of this occupation (European ESCO data). No account needed.
interpret scientific data to assess water quality
monitor larval growth
maintain the production of juveniles at the nursery stage
carry out feeding operations
monitor fish health status
About aquaculture hatchery technician
Water is the first subject. The technician interprets scientific data to assess water quality, operates the recirculation system installed in the hatchery, and carries out the wastewater treatment operations. Wastewater is treated in line with the regulations on the types of pollutants and the methods of disposal. Temperature, oxygen and ammonia are checked continuously.
The stock is watched closely. The technician carries out the feeding operations, works with plankton production for the earliest feeding stages, and looks for deformities in live fish, which is both a quality control and an early warning: deformities point back to conditions in the eggs and the larvae.
Hygiene decides whether a batch survives. The technician applies the disinfection methods used in aquaculture hatching and looks after the hatchery equipment, applying the sanitation measures required in hatchery production. A lapse in cleaning or disinfection can therefore lead to heavy losses.
European Skills Framework
Skills and knowledge areas required for this occupation based on European classification.
Essential (30)
aquaculture reproductionaquaculture reproductionThe 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,...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.sanitation measures for aquaculture hatchery productionsanitation measures for aquaculture hatchery productionStandards of sanitation and cleanliness essential to effective control of fungi and other parasites under intensive culture conditions.green water incubation technologygreen water incubation technologyThe green water incubation technology used during aquaculture hatchery.plankton productionplankton productionThe methods, characteristics and equipment used to cultivate phytoplankton, microalgae and live prey such as rotifers or Artemia with advanced techniques.interpret scientific data to assess water qualityinterpret scientific data to assess water qualityAnalyse and interpret data like biological properties to know the quality of water.monitor larval growthmonitor larval growthMonitor the growth and health of the larvae.maintain the production of juveniles at the nursery stagemaintain the production of juveniles at the nursery stageMaintain the production of juveniles at the nursery stage using advanced high density production techniques.carry out feeding operationscarry out feeding operationsCarry out manual feeding. Calibrate and operate automatic and computerised feeding systems. Monitor animal feeding behaviour.monitor fish health statusmonitor fish health statusMonitor the health of fish, based on feeding and general behaviour. Interpret environmental parameters and analyse mortalities.induce spawning and fertilisation on aquaculture speciesinduce spawning and fertilisation on aquaculture speciesInduce spawning using appropriate techniques for specific cultured species of fish, molluscs, crustaceans or others. Determine sexual maturity of broodstock, using appropriate techniques as indicated ...maintain hatchery equipmentmaintain hatchery equipmentMake minor repairs to hatchery equipment as required.condition broodstockcondition broodstockIncubate 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.preserve fish samples for diagnosispreserve fish samples for diagnosisCollect and preserve larval, fish and mollusc samples or lesions for diagnosis by fish disease specialists.carry out waste water treatmentcarry out waste water treatmentPerform waste water treatment according to regulations checking for biological waste and chemical waste.manage capture broodstock operationsmanage capture broodstock operationsPlan 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 ...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...operate hatchery recirculation systemoperate hatchery recirculation systemEfficiently operate a hatchery recirculation system for specified aquatic organisms.monitor water qualitymonitor water qualityMeasure water quality: temperature, oxygen, salinity, pH, N2, NO2,NH4, CO2, turbidity, chlorophyll. Monitor microbiological water quality.maintain hatchery facilitiesmaintain hatchery facilitiesMake minor repairs to hatchery facilities as required.carry out maintenance of aquaculture equipmentcarry out maintenance of aquaculture equipmentMaintain aquaculture equipment and identify equipment needs. Carry out routine maintenance and minor repairs as needed.maintain hatchery recordsmaintain hatchery recordsMaintain hatchery production records and inventory accurately, including the preparation of health documents for the transport of juveniles.collect broodstockcollect broodstockSource broodstock from fisheries and held them in maturation tanks before collecting their seeds.monitor hatchery productionmonitor hatchery productionMonitor and maintain hatchery production, monitoring stocks and movements.operate hatchery traysoperate hatchery traysFill hatchery trays with fertilised eggs and place trays in incubation troughs.ensure aquaculture personnel health and safetyensure aquaculture personnel health and safetyMake 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 a...culture aquaculture hatchery stocksculture aquaculture hatchery stocksUse 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 shellfi...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.hatchery designhatchery designThe components of planning, layout and ventilation involved in a hatchery for designated species of fish, molluscs, crustaceans or others as required.carry out hatchery production processescarry out hatchery production processesCollect 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 techniqu...
Optional (17) — show
fisheries managementfisheries managementThe principles, methods and equipment used in population management applied to fisheries: the concept of catch, by-catch, fishing effort, maximum sustainable yield, different sampling methods and how ...genetic selection programmegenetic selection programmeThe methods used to plan and carry out a genetic selection programme for selected species of fish, molluscs, crustaceans and others.environmental legislationenvironmental legislationThe environmental policies and legislation applicable in a certain domain.work in outdoor conditionswork in outdoor conditionsCan cope with the different climate conditions such as heat, rain, cold or in strong wind.use water disinfection equipmentuse water disinfection equipmentOperate equipment for water disinfection, using different methods and techniques, such as mechanical filtration, depending on needs.manage water quality testingmanage water quality testingDirect the procedures surrounding the testing and quality analysis of water and subsequent purification procedures by managing operations from collection of samples to laboratory testing, managing sta...manage animal biosecuritymanage animal biosecurityPlan and use appropriate biosafety measures to prevent transmission of diseases and ensure effective overall biosecurity. Maintain and follow biosecurity procedures and infection control when working ...perform water treatmentsperform water treatmentsPerform regularly water testing, ensuring that water management and filtration processes follow reasonable management practices, industry standards, or commonly accepted farming practices. Record prev...ensure compliance with aquaculture standardsensure compliance with aquaculture standardsEnsure that operations comply with standards for sustainable aquaculture.manage aquatic habitatmanage aquatic habitatRemove artificial barriers to aquatic organism movement, such as culverts and dams. Maintain and restore natural vegetation along shorelines. Minimise erosion along developed shorelines. Prevent the s...cultivate planktoncultivate planktonCultivate phytoplankton and microalgae. Cultivate live prey such as rotifers or Artemia with advanced techniques.perform water treatment proceduresperform water treatment proceduresPerform operations such as filtering, sterilising, and dechlorinating in order to purify water for consumption and food production using different procedures and technologies such as micro-filtration,...use aquacultural heating equipmentuse aquacultural heating equipmentOperate water heating and pump equipment as appropriate such as electrical heaters, heat exchangers, heat pumps, and solar pumps.rear food fishrear food fishSpawn and rear food fish or exotic fish for commercial use.feed broodstockfeed broodstockFeed broodstock according to nutritional needs. This will initially include live prey such as rotifers and artemia.supervise waste water treatmentssupervise waste water treatmentsSupervise waste water treatment according to environmental regulations.treat contaminated watertreat contaminated waterTreat contaminated water using a variety of techniques such as lagoons and reed beds.
Related Occupations
Occupations that need many of the same essential skills, so the move between them is shortest.
aquaculture rearing technician18 shared essential skillsaquaculture hatchery manager9 shared essential skillsaquaculture hatchery worker8 shared essential skillsaquaculture recirculation technician8 shared essential skillsaquaculture husbandry worker7 shared essential skillsaquaculture cage technician6 shared essential skillsaquaculture husbandry technician6 shared essential skillsaquaculture recirculation manager5 shared essential skills
Frequently asked questions
What does an aquaculture hatchery technician do?
Aquaculture hatchery technicians operate and control all aspects of the hatchery production processes, from broodstock management to pregrowing juveniles.
What skills does an aquaculture hatchery technician need?
An aquaculture hatchery technician needs 30 essential skills, including aquaculture reproduction, fish biology, sanitation measures for aquaculture hatchery production, green water incubation technology, plankton production.
Will AI replace aquaculture hatchery technician jobs?
The AI disruption score for aquaculture hatchery technician is 26/100 (low risk). Skills most exposed to automation: maintain hatchery records, environmental legislation, animal welfare legislation. Most resilient: work in outdoor conditions, maintain hatchery facilities, manage aquatic habitat.
AI Replacement Risk
26/ 100
Low Risk
Low riskHigh risk
Quick Facts
ISCO GroupMarket-oriented skilled forestry, fishery and hunting workers
Essential Skills30
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