In 1999 there were over 1100 people employed at aquaculture sites around Nova Scotia, and the number is growing every year. The two main types of jobs available in aquaculture operations can be broken down into either operators/managers and labourers. Additionally many aquaculture sites and companies have need for biologists, veterinarians, food technologists and fish processing positions to be filled.

The duties of each of these two main job categories are:

• Operators and Managers – Aquaculture sites are either operated by the owner or managed by a senior employee for the owner. Both styles require the operator to manage all aspects of the site from selecting or growing brood stock; designing, constructing and maintaining the growing site; establishing feeding routines; monitoring growth and condition of the stock; supervising and training employees, maintaining records; processing the fish for market or contracting out the processing; sales and marketing; and maintenance at the site.

  Human Resources Development Canada has an excellent description of the tasks, experience required and other information for people interested in the job category Aquaculture Operators and Managers (#8257) on its web site. See the information at http://www.ns.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/english/lmi/occsums/occsum.asp?which=8257 (Be sure to follow the links on this web page for the part of the province in which you are seeking a position. There is good information regarding average wages, number of usual openings and short-term outlook for jobs in each area.)

• Aquaculture Labourers – People in this position perform many of the daily tasks required for the aquaculture operation to proceed. It involves establishing and maintaining all the equipment at the site; feeding and monitoring the stock; operating boats (at some sites); processing fish (at some sites); and other related duties.

  Human Resources Development Canada has an excellent description of the tasks, experience required and other information for people interested in the job category Aquaculture and Marine Harvest Labourers (#8613) on its web site. See the information at http://www.ns.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/english/lmi/occsums/occsum.asp?which=8613. (Be sure to follow the links on this web page for the part of the province in which you are seeking a position. There is good information regarding average wages, number of usual openings and short-term outlook for jobs in each area.)

These categories describe the two main types of aquaculture jobs. The Canadian Aquaculture Industry Association has developed a list of types of positions common among hatcheries, grow-out sites and processing facilities. This list is more specific than the general categories above and provides more detail about the specific types of tasks required at aquaculture sites:

The CAIA has information available for potential industry workers in an article on its web site, see http://www.aquaculture.ca/NewsAndInfo/CAIA_NewsAndInfo_articles_article3.html

You may also be interested in developing your own grow-out site to undertake the full range of business, regulatory, hatchery, growing and processing activities involved. Being a small aquaculture operator is a complicated piece of work that requires detailed knowledge of many diverse trades and processes. It also takes lots of hard work. Most of the aquaculture sites in Nova Scotia are run as small businesses and you may wish to contact someone you know in the industry to get more detailed information. For information on the process required to become a licenced aquaculturist, check the Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture and Fisheries web site at http://www.gov.ns.ca/fish/aquaculture/application devoted to the subject.

As mentioned previously, there were 1104 people employed on either a full or part time basis in the aquaculture industry in Nova Scotia in 1999. The graphs below show the employment level at finfish, shellfish and other aquaculture sites, plus a total for the whole province. For a version of these charts or the tables that contain the information, click on this link to download the associated files.

For a look at the relative employment levels in these three categories of aquaculture sites, take a look at this chart:

Lists of Sites

In early 2001 there were 381 aquaculture permits for all species for hatchery and grow-out sites in Nova Scotia. This number is expected to grow at a steady pace over the next few years. For a variety of Microsoft Ecel spreadsheet files categorizing these permits and Microsoft Word files with address and telephone number for the contacts at these sites, see the links below to downloads these files and lists. The information has been extracted from lists kept by the NS Department of Agriculture and Fisheries and is accurate to February 2001. Changes may have happened since then. Check back periodically for updated files:

• Spreadsheet showing all NS Aquaculture permits by company name and contact name - NS Aquaculture Permits by Company and by Contact Name.xls (MS-Excel)
• Spreadsheet showing all NS Aquacultire permits by county - NS Aquaculture Permits by County.xls (MS-Excel)
• Spreadsheet showing all sites NS Aquaculture permits categorized by species of operation, such as salmon and trout, mussels, oysters, clams and quahogs, and an other species category - NS Aquaculture Permits by Species.xls (MS-Excel)
• List of addresses for all NS Aquaculture permits by company name - NS Aquaculture Permits by Company List.doc (MS-Word)
• List of addresses for all NA Aquaculture permits by contact name - NS Aquaculture Permits by Contact Name List.doc (MS-Word)