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Fish Farmer

Do you want to become a Fish Farmer? Here is some information to help point you in the right direction:

Job Description - Print Page

Fish farmers breed and rear fish and shellfish for sale, mostly for food. Some fin fish, though, are bred for angling and for ornamental pools.

The main areas of work in fish farming are:

• Feeding - they feed the fish by hand or by filling hoppers that then feed the fish automatically.
• Grading fish - this involves grading fish or shellfish by size and moving them to bigger tanks or other holding units.
• Maintaining water quality - they make regular checks on factors such as water temperature and oxygen content.
• Preventing and treating disease.
• Harvesting - when fish for eating are ready to sell, they must kill them, gut them and pack them in ice.
• Maintenance - buildings and equipment have to be repaired and maintained.

Fish farms operate seven days a week, and fish farmers are likely to work long hours. The job involves working outdoors in all weather conditions, and there is a lot of heavy lifting, standing, bending and carrying.

Salaries range from between £9,500 and £30,000.

A fish farmer should:

• have a real interest in fish
• have practical skills
• be fit and healthy.

There are around 1,150 fish farms in the UK employing about 7,200 people. Around half work part time. There is competition for vacancies. Fish farming has grown in recent years, and that growth is expected to continue.

Fish farmers do not necessarily need qualifications, but if they want to enter as a manager or assistant manager, they will probably need a higher national diploma or a degree. Young people may be able to enter the work directly, or they could do a full-time course. There is no upper age limit for entry to this work. Employers offer training which may include working towards SVQs.

On a large fish farm, people may be promoted from worker to stockman, foreman, assistant manager and manager. They could possibly start up their own fish farm, but this requires a lot of money. If they are well qualified they may be able to transfer to scientific or technical work, such as research.

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