Manufacturing & ProductionISCO 1312
Aquaculture production manager
Aquaculture production managers plan, direct and coordinate the production of fish, shellfish or other forms of aquatic life such as cash crops, in large-scale aquaculture operations to culture and harvest or for release into fresh, brackish or salt water.
Check yourself in a minute: aquaculture production manager
Rate 5 of the 38 essential skills of this occupation (European ESCO data). No account needed.
apply company policies
plan aquatic resources feeding regimes
manage a small-to-medium business
monitor the use of resources in production
manage aquatic resources stock production
About aquaculture production manager
As an aquaculture production manager in Poland, you will oversee large-scale operations that culture and harvest fish, shellfish, or other aquatic organisms for commercial purposes or environmental conservation. Your responsibilities encompass planning production schedules, managing feeding regimes, monitoring environmental conditions, and ensuring compliance with biosecurity and animal welfare regulations. You will make critical decisions regarding resource allocation, equipment maintenance, and contingency planning for escapees, while also managing staff and maintaining quality standards. This role is vital to the growing aquaculture industry in Poland and Europe, supporting food security and sustainable seafood production while adapting to evolving environmental legislation.
Key Work Functions
Core areas of responsibility for a aquaculture production manager.
1
Production Planning and Coordination
- Plan and direct aquaculture production operations including stocking, growth monitoring, and harvest scheduling
- Use aquaculture production planning software to forecast yields and optimize resource allocation
- Coordinate with multiple departments and external stakeholders to ensure production timelines are met
2
Environmental and Biological Monitoring
- Monitor water quality, temperature, and other environmental parameters critical to organism health
- Assess growth rates and apply knowledge of fish biology and aquaculture reproduction to optimize production
- Understand and apply principles of fresh water and saltwater ecosystem management
3
Biosecurity and Regulatory Compliance
- Implement biosecurity protocols to prevent disease outbreaks and maintain aquatic organism health
- Ensure compliance with environmental legislation, animal welfare regulations, and quality standards for aquaculture products
- Develop and maintain escapee contingency plans to prevent environmental damage from escaped farmed organisms
4
Feeding and Nutrition Management
- Plan aquatic resource feeding regimes based on organism requirements and growth stages
- Monitor feed consumption and adjust nutrition programs to optimize growth and reduce waste
- Apply knowledge of husbandry practices and their effects on aquatic resources and production outcomes
5
Business and Resource Management
- Manage small-to-medium business operations including budgeting, staff management, and vendor relations
- Monitor the use of resources in production to minimize costs while maintaining quality standards
- Apply company policies and principles of insurance coverage appropriate to aquaculture operations
- Design and maintain containment systems according to design principles and operational requirements
6
Shellfish Cultivation Management
- Operate and maintain shellfish cultivation systems including nurseries and grow-out facilities
- Apply species-specific knowledge of shellfish biology, spawning, and larval rearing
- Manage water quality parameters critical to successful shellfish cultivation and harvest timing
European Skills Framework
Skills and knowledge areas required for this occupation based on European classification.
Essential (38)
fishing industryfishing industryThe business model of the fishing industry, including recreational, subsistence and commercial fishing, and the harvesting, processing, and marketing sectors.fish harvesting methodsfish harvesting methodsKnowledge of up-to-date fish harvesting methods.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.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,...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.fresh water ecosystemsfresh water ecosystemsThe types and natural characteristics of fresh water ecosystems such as lakes, ponds, rivers, wetlands, streams etc.shellfish cultivation systemsshellfish cultivation systemsTechnical design principles of shellfish cultivation systems, such as longline, Bouchot, tressels, suspended culture, tables, bottom culture.rates of growth assessmentrates of growth assessmentThe different methods used to evaluate the growth of most important cultivated species.aquaculture production planning softwareaquaculture production planning softwareThe functioning principles and usage of a software dedicated to the planning of aquculture production.design principles of containment systemsdesign principles of containment systemsThe design elements of different containment systems, such as cages, pens, nets, ponds and tanks.principles of insuranceprinciples of insuranceThe understanding of the principles of insurance, including third party liability, stock and facilities.quality standards applicable to aquaculture productsquality standards applicable to aquaculture productsQuality schemes, label rouge, ISO systems, HACCP procedures, bio/organic status, traceability labels.escapee contingency plansescapee contingency plansThe procedures to follow in case there are escapees from cage systems.husbandry and harvesting effects on aquatic resourceshusbandry and harvesting effects on aquatic resourcesThe effects on aquatic resources, fish, mollusks and crustaceans of husbandry and harvesting activities.biosecuritybiosecurityBe 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.apply company policiesapply company policiesApply the principles and rules that govern the activities and processes of an organisation.plan aquatic resources feeding regimesplan aquatic resources feeding regimesMake the approapriate operations to ensure aquatic resources for feeding regimes, taking into consideration farming constraints:set up fish feeding regimes, check animal feeding behaviour and operate ...manage a small-to-medium businessmanage a small-to-medium businessManage the organisational, financial and day-to-day operation of a small-to-medium enterprise.monitor the use of resources in productionmonitor the use of resources in productionObserve and check the use of resources such as food, oxygen, energy, water in the production process.manage teamworkmanage teamworkPlan the working schedule of a group of people in order to meet all time and quality requirements. Supervise, support and instruct members of a team. Provide feedback to teams and individuals on work ...manage aquatic resources stock productionmanage aquatic resources stock productionSet up a farm stock production spreadsheet and feed budget (feeding, growth, biomass, mortality, FCR, harvesting). Monitor and maintain stock production.write work-related reportswrite work-related reportsCompose 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 intelligib...control aquatic production environmentcontrol aquatic production environmentAssess the impact of biological conditions such as algae and fouling organisms by managing water intakes, catchments and oxygen use.develop stock health programmesdevelop stock health programmesDevelop a health and welfare programme for those aquatic resources under cultivation, in consultation with the fish health specialist.develop management plans to reduce risks in aquaculturedevelop management plans to reduce risks in aquacultureDevelop a management plan to reduce the risks from pests, predators and diseases. Supervise implementation of plan, especially disease prevention measures, throughout the aquaculture facility.deliver aquatic products to customer specificationsdeliver aquatic products to customer specificationsDeliver aquatic products to customer specifications, with full understanding of customer requirements.implement contingency plans for escapeesimplement contingency plans for escapeesCarry out contingency plans for cage escapees. Carry out fish capture escape operations.monitor growth rates of cultivated fish speciesmonitor growth rates of cultivated fish speciesMonitor and assess growth rates and biomass of cultivated fish species, taking mortalities into account. Calculate and forecast growth rates. Monitor and assess mortalities.perform project managementperform project managementManage and plan various resources, such as human resources, budget, deadline, results, and quality necessary for a specific project, and monitor the project's progress in order to achieve a specific g...monitor the farm environmental management planmonitor the farm environmental management planIdentify environmental designations and directives that relate to a given farm and incorporate their requirements in to the farm planning process. Monitor the implementation of the farm environmental ...supervise aquaculture facilitiessupervise aquaculture facilitiesSupervise aquaculture facilities and identify equipment needs. Understand aquaculture equipment drawings, plans, and design principles of different containment systems.treat fish diseasestreat fish diseasesIdentify the symptoms of fish diseases. Apply appropriate measures to treat or eliminate diagnosed conditions.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...supervise waste water treatmentssupervise waste water treatmentsSupervise waste water treatment according to environmental regulations.provide on-site training in aquaculture facilitiesprovide on-site training in aquaculture facilitiesProvide on-site training in aquaculture facilities, through instruction and demonstration of skills. Provide, implement and supervise a training development plan.fish gradingfish gradingThe method of how fish are graded according to their different characteristics: specification, size, quality and condition.supervise waste disposalsupervise waste disposalSupervise disposal of biological waste and chemical waste according to regulations.
Optional (22) — show
e-agriculturee-agricultureThe design and application of innovative ICT solutions in agriculture, horticulture, viniculture, fishery, forestry and livestock management.fish anatomyfish anatomyThe study of the form or morphology of fish species.marketing principlesmarketing principlesThe principles of managing the relationship between consumers and products or services for the purpose of increasing sales and improving advertising techniques.plankton productionplankton productionThe methods, characteristics and equipment used to cultivate phytoplankton, microalgae and live prey such as rotifers or Artemia with advanced techniques.collaborate with animal related professionalscollaborate with animal related professionalsCollaborate with veterinary and other animal related professionals through communication of animal details, case records and summary reports orally or via written or electronic transfer.work in outdoor conditionswork in outdoor conditionsCan cope with the different climate conditions such as heat, rain, cold or in strong wind.develop aquaculture strategiesdevelop aquaculture strategiesCultivate strategies for aquaculture plans based on reports and research in order to deal with specific fish farm issues. Plan and organise work activities in order to improve aquaculture production a...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...use different communication channelsuse different communication channelsMake use of various types of communication channels such as verbal, handwritten, digital and telephonic communication with the purpose of constructing and sharing ideas or information.develop food safety programmesdevelop food safety programmesDevelop a food safety programme including traceability, ISO quality systems and HACCP risk management procedures.set up documentation control systemset up documentation control systemSet up and maintain documentation control system.draw up marketing and sales plandraw up marketing and sales planWrite a a viable plan where the position of a business is described within a specific market and the marketing strategy for the following years is layed down. It should include knowledge of local, nat...make independent operating decisionsmake independent operating decisionsMake immediate operating decisions as necessary without reference to others, taking into account the circumstances and any relevant procedures and legislation. Determine alone which option is the best...work in shiftswork in shiftsWork in rotating shifts, where the goal is to keep a service or production line running around the clock and each day of the week.assess site production potentialassess site production potentialAssess the production potential of a site. Assess the trophic resources of a natural site and assess advantages and constraints of a site.implement scientific decision making in healthcareimplement scientific decision making in healthcareImplement scientific findings for evidence-based practice, integrating research evidence into decision making by forming a focused clinical question in response to a recognised information need, searc...organise sale of live productsorganise sale of live productsOrganise the sale of live products, be able to negotiate prices and quantities. Secure good payment conditions. Know the different techniques needed for selling harvested products.prepare documentation for international shippingprepare documentation for international shippingPrepare and process official documents for international shipping.solve operational transport problemssolve operational transport problemsCommunicate with clients and providers in the event of a delay; undertake measures to provide solutions. Take decisions and work proactively in order to avoid operational problems.perform market researchperform market researchGather, assess and represent data about target market and customers in order to facilitate strategic development and feasibility studies. Identify market trends.traceability in food industrytraceability in food industryTraceability measures to respond to potential risks that can arise in food and feed, so as to ensure that all food products are safe for humans to eat.organise staff assessmentorganise staff assessmentOrganising the overall assessment process of the staff.
Related Occupations
Occupations that need many of the same essential skills, so the move between them is shortest.
aquaculture husbandry manager20 shared essential skillsaquaculture hatchery manager15 shared essential skillsaquaculture harvesting manager10 shared essential skillsaquaculture recirculation manager9 shared essential skillsaquaculture site supervisor9 shared essential skillsaquaculture husbandry technician7 shared essential skillsaquaculture rearing technician7 shared essential skillsaquaculture recirculation technician6 shared essential skills
Frequently asked questions
What does an aquaculture production manager do?
Aquaculture production managers plan, direct and coordinate the production of fish, shellfish or other forms of aquatic life such as cash crops, in large-scale aquaculture operations to culture and harvest or for release into fresh, brackish or salt water.
What skills does an aquaculture production manager need?
An aquaculture production manager needs 38 essential skills, including fishing industry, fish harvesting methods, animal welfare legislation, aquaculture reproduction, environmental legislation.
Will AI replace aquaculture production manager jobs?
The AI disruption score for aquaculture production manager is 48/100 (moderate risk). Skills most exposed to automation: write work-related reports, aquaculture production planning software, monitor the use of resources in production. Most resilient: work in outdoor conditions, work in shifts, escapee contingency plans.
AI Replacement Risk
48/ 100
Moderate Risk
Low riskHigh risk
Quick Facts
ISCO GroupProduction and specialised services managers
Essential Skills38
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