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Aquacultural Manager

Overview and Key Facts

person looking in scope
Education
Education
Bachelor's degree
Median Pay
Median Pay
$87,980
Job Growth
Job Growth
-1.30%
(Below US Average)
Jobs in 2034
Jobs in 2034
825,000

What Do They Do?

An aquacultural manager could...

 
salmon being cut
Provide consumers with top-grade, sustainable seafood.
fish farm
Find environmentally friendly ways of farming fish.
oyster with pearl
Manage oyster beds that supply top-quality pearls to jewelers.
fisherman
Stock a lake to make sure recreational fishermen go home with a trophy.
 
salmon being cut fish farm oyster with pearl fisherman

Overview Listen to this section

Walk by the supermarket's fresh fish counter and you will see a collection of marine ambassadors from around the world. You might see shrimp from Thailand, salmon from Canada, and flounder from the United States of America. Some of the fish is wild, caught by fishermen from the open seas; but these days, a lot of fish and shellfish is farm raised. Aquacultural managers direct operations on farms and fish hatcheries that cultivate ocean and freshwater fish for human consumption, recreation, and research. The field of aquacultural management is an example of biotechnology. It is the intersection of biology, chemistry, and cutting-edge technical equipment.
Watch this video to learn more about the fish hatchery manager's job. This job is a multifaceted one. He or she has to direct the efforts of hatchery workers, keep abreast of the latest fish breeding technology, and be familiar with the business side of the operation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1optI2cdsA

Do You Have the Skills and Characteristics of an Aquacultural Manager?


  1. Mechanical Aptitude: ?
  2. Biology: ?
  3. Speaking: ?
  4. Critical Thinking: ?
  5. Operation and Control: ?
More skills...

Core Tasks

Think about if you'd like the typical tasks an Aquacultural Manager might do:
  • Grow fish and shellfish as cash crops or for release into freshwater or saltwater.
  • Supervise and train aquaculture and fish hatchery support workers.
  • Collect and record growth, production, and environmental data.
  • Conduct and supervise stock examinations in order to identify diseases or parasites.
  • Account for and disburse funds.
  • Devise and participate in activities to improve fish hatching and growth rates, and to prevent disease in hatcheries.
  • Monitor environments to ensure maintenance of optimum conditions for aquatic life.
  • Direct and monitor trapping and spawning of fish, egg incubation, and fry rearing, applying knowledge of management and fish culturing techniques.
  • Coordinate the selection and maintenance of brood stock.
  • Direct and monitor the transfer of mature fish to lakes, ponds, streams, or commercial tanks.
  • Determine, administer, and execute policies relating to operations administration and standards, and facility maintenance.
  • Collect information regarding techniques for fish collection and fertilization, spawn incubation, and treatment of spawn and fry.
  • Determine how to allocate resources, and how to respond to unanticipated problems such as insect infestation, drought, and fire.
  • Operate and maintain cultivating and harvesting equipment.
  • Confer with biologists, fish pathologists, and other fishery personnel to obtain data concerning fish habits, diseases, food, and environmental requirements.
  • Prepare reports required by state and federal laws.
  • Identify environmental requirements of a particular species, and select and oversee the preparation of sites for species cultivation.
  • Scuba dive in order to inspect sea farm operations.
  • Design and construct pens, floating stations, and collector strings or fences for sea farms.

Salary & Job Openings

Median Salary (Yearly Pay)

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No data available for some states (white on the map)

Future Jobs

Blast-Off:

How Will Aquacultural Manager Jobs Grow by 2034?
Projected % Growth
Rapid growth
(10% or higher)
Much faster than average
(7% - 10%)
Faster than average
(5% - 7%)
About as fast as average
(3% - 5%)
Slower than average
(0% - 3%)
Decreasing
Average of all U.S. jobs (5.3%)
Aquacultural Manager jobs (-1.30%)
Source: https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables/occupational-projections-and-characteristics.htm

Steps to Get There: Becoming an Aquacultural Manager

High School Subjects to Study

Aim to study the yellow-shaded subjects.
Math
Algebra 1
Geometry
Algebra 2
Pre-Calculus
Calculus
Statistics
Science
Biology
Chemistry
Physics
Environmental Science
Physiology
Bio-Medical / Biotech
IT &
Engineering
Computer Science
Applied Technology
Drafting & CAD Training
Core
English
Foreign Language
Business
Psychology / Sociology

Career Pathway Listen to this section

Many state-run hatcheries require that the manager have a bachelor's degree in fishery sciences or a related field, and pass a civil service exam.

Because of rapid changes in the industry, aquacultural managers need to stay informed about continuing advances in aquacultural methods, both in the United States and abroad. They need to monitor changes in governmental regulations that may affect production methods or markets. Besides print journals that inform the aquacultural community, managers use the Internet for quick access to the latest developments in research areas such as fish breeding.

Education- Typical Degree Needed After High School Listen to this section

Degree
Post
high school credential
AA
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctoral or Professional Degree

Typical degree for an entry-level position: Bachelor's degree ? Types of Degrees and Credentials

Most entry-level positions require a bachelor's degree in fishery sciences or a related field. For students interested in aquaculture, formal programs include coursework in fisheries biology, fish culture, hatchery management and maintenance, and hydrology.

Companies That Hire Aquacultural Managers

Try it Out with an Activity or Project

STEM Activities

STEM activities are fun hands-on explorations that usually take from 10 minutes to one hour and use readily available household or classroom materials while introducing you to STEM concepts common in this career.

Science Project Ideas

Project Ideas are in-depth STEM explorations that have a strong focus on controlling variables, taking accurate measurements, and analyzing data suitable for investigating the scientific method or the engineering design process.

On the Job

Role Models

Meet Francina Martinez-Valencia, the manager of Lisboa Springs Hatchery in New Mexico.
It's the experience, it's time on the job, your nose in the water--that kind of stuff we need to be able to operate a hatchery successful[ly]. 
Francina Martinez-Valencia

Nature of the Work

Aquaculture farmers raise fish and shellfish in marine, brackish, or fresh water, usually in ponds, floating net pens, raceways, or recirculating systems. They stock, feed, protect, and otherwise manage aquatic life sold for consumption or used for research or recreational fishing. Aquacultural managers manage the day-to-day activities of one or more fish and shellfish farms and hatcheries. Their duties and responsibilities focus both on the business and on the technological aspects of running a farm.

Work Environment

Aquacultural managers spend part of the day working outdoors, and the other part of the day working indoors on computers. The outdoor work of aquacultural managers is often strenuous; work hours are frequently long. Hours can vary depending on the time of the year and the needs of the fish.

Aquacultural jobs can be hazardous. Equipment can cause serious injury, and workers must be constantly alert on the job. The proper operation of equipment and handling of chemicals are necessary to avoid accidents, safeguard health, and protect the environment.

More Information

Ask Questions

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