Career Information
Aquaculture is a relatively new industry to Canada and is the fastest growing sector of the Nova Scotia fishery. Aquaculture is the farming of aquatic organisms – it’s like agriculture but in water! Aquaculture can be broken down in to two sectors: finfish and shellfish. The most common products found in the province would be items like salmon and mussels. Farms in Nova Scotia raise a variety of species ranging from marine algae to clams, oysters and striped bass.
Positions
Each company is unique in their operations and therefore their positions’ responsibilities as well. These are some examples of the positions available in aquaculture companies across Nova Scotia. Pay rates range from minimum wage to salaried positions and can depend on your responsibilities and your relevant education and experience.
Hatchery Technician
Responsible for handling feeding systems, grading, fish health, fish husbandry, site maintenance, related record keeping, and equipment upkeep. May check and record oxygen and water quality levels and clean holding facilities to ensure ideal holding conditions.
Fish Health Technician
Monitor fish during all life stages, recognize and solve fish health problems, maintain records, examine fish grossly and microscopically, may train and supervise team members in the proper techniques of fish handling, sorting, pond inventory and sampling, fish transportation, and all other fish husbandry activities.
Site Manager
Overall site management; monitors species, addresses any issues, takes action to prevent expensive/unnecessary fish losses; understands/enforces/abides by applicable legislation and standards. Maintains and updates records, tracking when stock will be ready for harvest.
Aquaculture Engineer
Ensures proper aquatic farming operation; maintains and improves operations, problem solving, analyzing current processes and designing improvement plans, may be responsible for preparing budget for upcoming projects, managing new equipment and developing production facilities.
Habitat Biologist
Provide knowledge, feedback and professional advice on aquatic organism management; collect organism data; understand and implement sustainable resource management, ecosystem management and landscape planning theories, principles and practices; study aquatic habitat, population assessments and environmental impacts.
Aquaculture Diver
Supports production of farmed marine species by cleaning and inspecting nets, performing mortality retrievals, sea bed samples, mooring checks, recovery and net scoring; may dive to depths of approximately 18 metres tending to fish and netting.
Supervisor
Provides product specifications and regular instruction to employees; monitors facility ensuring safety and efficiency, provides supervision, reinforcement and discipline. Acts as liaison between multiple internal entities.
Office Administrator
Organizes/maintains variety of company documents; answers and directs telephone calls and visitors, handles supply orders, provides regular updates to management.
Sales Representatives/International Sales Representatives
Communicates with current and potential clients, may require additional languages; receives client orders, ensures order accuracy; handles accounts receivable.
Quality Control Personnel
Performs variety of tests, documents test results, addresses any issues/discrepancies; may act as supervisor/provide corrective instruction to subordinates. Provides regular updates to management regarding product quality.
Occupational Health and Safety Personnel
Assists in the development and maintenance of company occupational health and safety policies and procedures. Communicates health and safety standards to employees and may also participate in Joint Occupational Health and Safety meetings.
Human Resources Personnel
Develops variety of human resources tools; assists with labour relations, performance management, recruitment, selection, training and orientation. May also perform payroll and other administrative duties.
Manager
Provides oversight of entire operation; common tasks involve sales, administration, supervision and performance management; ensures all laws/regulations are followed, machinery is operating properly, appropriate supplies are provided; provides guidance and instruction to all employees.
The Harvesting aspect of the fishery is the gathering of fish and shellfish from the sea. Those working in Harvesting are subject to the variable weather conditions of the marine environment while at sea aboard a vessel.
Positions
Crewmember
Catches seafood using traps, fishing nets, and long line hooks, hauled aboard the vessel. Cleans and stores seafood appropriately. Baits and repairs fishing gear. Regularly cleans decks and holding areas; maintains clean space.
Captain
Responsible for oversight of vessel and the guidance and supervision of crew members. Uses electronic aids to navigate to and from fishing grounds, determines where to fish. Communicates with shore and other vessels.
Marine Engineer
Develops designs, operates, and maintains vessel propulsion, on-board systems, and oceanographic technology. Inspects, tests, maintains, modifies, and installs equipment associated with onboard mechanical systems.
Cook
Prepares a variety of meals for vessel employees while at sea. Ensures meals are prepared at appropriate times and meeting quality standards.
Factory manager
Provides oversight of entire operation on board; common tasks administration, supervision and performance management; ensures all laws/regulations are followed, machinery is operating properly, appropriate supplies are provided; provides guidance and instruction to all employees.
Factory Supervisor
Provides product specifications and regular instruction to employees; monitors operation ensuring safety and efficiency, provides supervision, reinforcement and discipline. Acts as liaison between multiple internal entities.
Mate
Mate is second in command aboard the vessel and is capable of assuming full command should the Captain become incapacitated. The Captain relies heavily on the mate to supervise and coordinate day-to-day activities of all crew on deck
Quality Control
Performs variety of tests, documents test results, addresses any issues/discrepancies; may act as supervisor/provide corrective instruction to subordinates. Provides regular updates to management regarding product quality.
Factory Processor
Handling, preparing, moving, packing seafood on board. Ensuring quality products; ensuring products meet order specifications.
In 2015, Nova Scotia exported 1.68 billion dollars in seafood.There are a wide range of opportunities in the processing sector. Canada’s Ocean Playground is a provider for a growing global demand for seafood. All of that seafood must be prepared for export, making seafood processing a critical segment of the fishing industry in Nova Scotia.
Seafood Processing requires a workforce skilled in a variety of tasks, as well as knowledge of the equipment required to sort and shape seafood in to products desired by consumers.
Positions:
Each company is unique in their operations and therefore their positions’ responsibilities as well. These are some examples of the positions available in seafood processing companies across Nova Scotia. Pay rates range from minimum wage to salaried positions and depend on your responsibilities and your relevant education and experience.
Seafood Processor
Handling, preparing, moving, packing seafood. Ensuring quality products; ensuring products meet order specifications.
Sanitation/Cleaning
Ensuring cleanliness of facility; uses provided tools and chemicals to sanitize machines and production area(s).
Shipper/Receiver
Loads/unloads product from boats and trucks using equipment like mechanical hoists, forklifts and by hand.
Forklift Operator
Transports product to and from docks/trucks/freezers/production area(s) etc. May be required to track product movement/inventory.
Seafood Filleters/Trimmers/Shuckers
Removes bone and skin from seafood as per product specifications.
Machine Operator
Safe and efficient operation of various machinery; monitors machinery, informs management and technicians of any issues.
Machine Technician
Performs routine maintenance on machinery; provides technical support; resolves machinery issues.
Supervisor
Provides product specifications and regular instruction to employees; monitors facility ensuring safety and efficiency, provides supervision, reinforcement and discipline. Acts as liaison between multiple internal entities.
Office Administrator
Organizes/maintains variety of company documents; answers and directs telephone calls and visitors, handles supply orders, provides regular updates to management.
Sales Representatives/International Sales Representatives
Communicates with current and potential clients, may require additional languages; receives client orders, ensures order accuracy; handles accounts receivable.
Quality Control Personnel
Performs variety of tests, documents test results, addresses any issues/discrepancies; may act as supervisor/provide corrective instruction to subordinates. Provides regular updates to management regarding product quality.
Occupational Health and Safety Personnel
Assists in the development and maintenance of company occupational health and safety policies and procedures. Communicates health and safety standards to employees and may also participate in Joint Occupational Health and Safety meetings.
Human Resources Personnel
Develops variety of human resources tools; assists with labour relations, performance management, recruitment, selection, training and orientation. May also perform payroll and other administrative duties.
Manager
Provides oversight of entire operation; common tasks involve sales, administration, supervision and performance management; ensures all laws/regulations are followed, machinery is operating properly, appropriate supplies are provided; provides guidance and instruction to all employees.