Favourites
Not a student?
Further info
Are you
a problem solver? Try our
new game
Are you a problem solver? Try our new game
Fishing net against a sunset

Aquaculture Technician

Feeding and monitoring the health of fish and their surroundings

How this role makes a difference

Understanding the ecosystems that operate in our oceans, lakes and rivers, and how all kinds of water animals live and breed, is an essential part of understanding our planet. What we learn can be used to protect different species and environments, and to ensure fish farming takes place responsibly.

Aquaculture technicians can get involved in a wide range of work, everything from research into different species to farm management to environmental protection. Each role involves building an in-depth understanding of fish and their habitats and the use of specialised equipment. You could be the technician who helps a threatened species to survive, or who introduces better farming practices.

Male and female aquaculture technicians doing water reading

The kind of work you’ll do

  • Breeding fish
  • Feeding and monitoring fish health
  • Treating water
  • Observing and grading fish
  • Recording observations and producing reports
  • Maintaining buildings, equipment and habitats
  • Harvesting fish and supporting the sale of stock
Useful skills
Attention to detail
Skills & attributes
Useful skills
Precise
Skills & attributes
Useful skills
Technologically minded
Skills & attributes
Useful skills
Communicating complex ideas
Skills & attributes

What you can bring to the role

Some knowledge of biology and an interest in sea animals.

An enjoyment of working with your hands.

The ability to focus on your work, ask questions and complete tasks accurately.

A thorough approach to recording information and producing reports.

Excellent communication skills.

A knack for learning to use new tools, technology and equipment.

The confidence to work independently and to share your ideas and solutions within a team.

This role could also be right for you if you have any of the following interests:

- animals and nature

- science

- sustainability

£ 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 , 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Average salary per year *
£ 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 , 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Average salary per month *

Data powered by LMI for all
*according to ONS

Future career opportunities

You could start your career on a fish farm and progress to areas like fisheries management or biological science. On a larger farm, you could eventually become a supervisor or manager.

Alternatively, you could focus on research, initially supporting other people’s research programmes but eventually leading your own. This could involve travel to countries all over the world.

How to get into this role

There’s no perfect career path or ideal way into your dream job.

But if you’re interested in education and training options that could be relevant to this role, you might want to consider:  

Schools and colleges each have their own career guidance plan and can provide detailed information, advice, and guidance on options and next steps.

A little more about the role

Exciting features...

You will work with a diverse set of people with a range of technical skills. Some will be focused on the equipment you use, some on rare fish and others on farmed species. All of them will be considering the impact of global warming on our seas and water ecosystems and will bring different experiences you can learn from.

Other job titles...

This role can also be known by some other job titles including:

Fish Farmer

Discover
technicians who
do this role

Heather Mcconnell

Aquaculture Technician

Heather McConnell

Aquaculture Technician

Theo Johns
Paper aeroplane

What are your next steps?

Discover our expert advice on the different pathways available and how to get into your dream role.

3 glass beakers and vases with different amounts of red liquid in

Browse more technican roles

Discover what qualifications you’ll need, how much you can earn, and what the next steps are.
Like the sound of
this role? Read a technician's story