Aquaculture Environmental Analyst
Role lens
Aquaculture environmental analysts assess, plan and implement programmes to recognise, monitor and control environmental factors that can potentially affect the health of aquatic animals and plants.
Aquaculture environmental analysts work to safeguard the environment within aquaculture operations. Your days might involve assessing water quality, monitoring for pollutants, developing and implementing environmental management plans, and ensuring compliance with regulations. You’ll use scientific principles and analytical techniques to identify potential risks and propose solutions that balance production needs with ecological responsibility. This role requires a strategic mindset and the ability to lead projects and collaborate with diverse stakeholders.
- • Conducting environmental impact assessments for aquaculture facilities.
- • Developing and implementing monitoring programs to track water quality, sediment health, and biodiversity.
- • Analyzing data and identifying trends to inform management decisions and predict potential environmental issues.
Where this occupation is in demand
Reported labour shortages and surpluses, by year. Published for occupation groups, not for individual job titles.
Figures cover Science and engineering professionals — 274 jobs including this one.
In shortage: Denmark, Netherlands.
Longest-running shortage: Netherlands, 4 years.
Select a place on the map to see its figures.
About this source›
Source: ELA/EURES labour shortages and surpluses. Readings are published at occupation-group level, and cover Europe. Editions differ in annex layout and country coverage, so a change between years does not always mean the labour market changed. Countries in grey were not reported, which is not the same as being in balance.
What these words mean
The four things this section reports
- Reported demand
- Whether employers report needing people in this job — a judgement published by a national or EU body, not a count.
- Where it is heading
- Which way employment in this job is expected to move over the coming years, from an official projection.
- Openings
- Roughly how many openings arise — from growth and from people leaving the job.
- Typical pay
- What people in this job typically earn where the source publishes it. Blank does not mean unpaid; it means nobody publishes it for that place.
A measure is left out when nobody publishes it for that place, rather than shown as zero.
Which way the market leans for you
- In your favour
- More openings than people looking — employers are competing for candidates.
- Balanced
- Openings and candidates are roughly matched.
- Competitive
- More people looking than openings — expect to compete.
- Mixed evidence
- Sources disagree, or the same occupation group is short in one part and oversupplied in another.
Every source resolves to one of these four, so there is a single vocabulary to learn. What differs is the evidence behind it, which is printed underneath each verdict — a measured ratio of openings to jobseekers, or an assessment published by a national body.
How this job compares with other jobs in the same country
- Strong
- Among the strongest in that country
- Good
- Stronger than most jobs in that country
- Mixed
- About typical for that country
- Weak
- Weaker than most jobs in that country
This is a rank within one country, not a score you can carry across borders — the registers behind two countries count different people, so the same number means different things in each. It is also why a job can be among the strongest in a country and still show as Competitive: it leads the field in a market that is crowded overall.
Where these come from
Every figure is published by a national statistics office, a public employment service or an EU body, and each card names its source and the period it covers. Some places are counted monthly, others assessed once or twice a year, so two places on the same map can be describing different moments — the date is always shown.
None of this predicts one person’s chances. It describes a market.
Reported demand · Typical pay · Where it is heading (United States, Ireland, Australia, Malta, United Kingdom)
| Reported demand | Typical pay | Where it is heading | |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Not reported | $76,780 2025-05 | +1.6% 2024–2034 · BLS 2024-2034 |
| Ireland | Shortage reported ELA/EURES 2022 * | — | +35.5% 2023–2035 · Cedefop 2026 * |
| Australia | Shortage reported Jobs and Skills Australia 2025 * | — | — |
| Malta | Shortage reported ELA/EURES 2024 * | — | — |
| United Kingdom | Not reported | £37,949 2025-provisional | — |
* Published for occupation groups, not for individual job titles.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS)
Source: Office for National Statistics, Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Open Government Licence v3.0
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Future Outlook for aquaculture environmental analyst
The outlook for aquaculture environmental analyst reflects a balanced mix of automation exposure and durable, human-led work.
How are these scores calculated?
The Resilience Score (0–100) estimates how structurally protected this occupation is from automation and AI disruption, based on task-level analysis. Higher scores mean more human-judgment-intensive tasks. AI Exposure shows the estimated percentage of task hours that current AI capabilities could affect. These are model-derived structural indicators, not predictions about individual job security.
How could aquaculture environmental analyst change as AI adoption grows?
This role is likely to change gradually, with AI supporting selected tasks rather than replacing the whole occupation.
Illustrative scenario based on task automatability — not a forecast. Values are rounded the further ahead you look.
This role is likely to change gradually, with AI supporting selected tasks rather than replacing the whole occupation.
Illustrative scenario based on task automatability — not a forecast. Values are rounded the further ahead you look.
Model-based estimate. Use it as a planning signal, not a guarantee.
Compare this to your profile
How AI may change this role
Deterministic, model-based interpretation of current role signals — not a guarantee of replacement.
What still depends on people
- carry out environmental audits
- monitor the farm environmental management plan
- ensure the safety of endangered species and protected areas
Where AI may become a co-pilot
- assess contamination
- analyse environmental data
- advise on environmental risk management systems
Tasks most exposed to automation
- write work-related reports
Vital Signs & AI Vectors
AI Exposure Vectors
0-100%Exposure to AI-assisted analysis, pattern recognition, and predictive modelling tasks
Exposure to content generation, creative augmentation, and large language model tools
Exposure to physical automation, robotics, and sensor-driven task displacement
Exposure to workflow automation, decision-support software, and process digitisation
Technical Details
NexFuture v3.0 estimates automation exposure natively from ESCO essential-skill groups, weighted by skill mass and calibrated against expert anchors. Scores are probabilistic estimates, not guarantees. See the NexFuture Methodology White Paper for full details.
Measures automation exposure. It does not measure pay, demand, or how many jobs exist near you.
What people in this role usually do
Energy & Natural Resources
A typical day as an aquaculture environmental analyst
09 09:00 · Morning assess environmental impact in aquaculture operations
10 10:30 · Mid-morning grow cultures used in monitoring experiments
12 12:00 · Midday analyse environmental data
14 14:00 · Afternoon carry out feeding operations
15 15:30 · Late afternoon ensure the safety of endangered species and protected areas
17 17:00 · Wrap-up measure the impact of specific aquaculture activity
Task order is illustrative. Individual days vary.
What you need to do this work
The skills, knowledge and tools this role calls for — and the traits and rewards that come with it.
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carry out environmental audits
Use equipment to measure various environmental parameters in order to identify environmental problems and investigate manners in which they can be resolved. Perform inspections in order to ensure compliance with environmental legislation.
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monitor the farm environmental management plan
Identify environmental designations and directives that relate to a given farm and incorporate their requirements in to the farm planning process. Monitor the implementation of the farm environmental management plan and review timescales.
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ensure the safety of endangered species and protected areas
Ensure that projects do not adversely affect migratory birds, rare or endangered animal species, critical habitat or environmentally protected areas.
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assess environmental impact
Monitor environmental impacts and carry out assessments in order to identify and to reduce the organisation's environmental risks while taking costs into account.
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assess environmental impact in aquaculture operations
Measure the environmental impact of a company's aquaculture operations. Take into account factors such as quality of the sea and surface water, fish and sea plant habitats and risks regarding the quality of air, odour and noise.
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prevent marine pollution
Conduct inspections and take measures in order to prevent or mitigate marine pollution. Adhere to international codes and resolutions.
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carry out feeding operations
Carry out manual feeding. Calibrate and operate automatic and computerised feeding systems. Monitor animal feeding behaviour.
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carry out training in environmental matters
Perform staff training and ensure all members of the workforce understand how they can contribute to improved environmental performance.
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assess contamination
Analyse evidence of contamination. Advise on how to decontaminate.
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grow cultures used in monitoring experiments
Grow cultures for use in monitoring experiments to make sure that correct laboratory quality control procedures are carried out.
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perform environmental investigations
Perform environmental investigations as required, checking regulatory proceedings, possible legal actions or other types of complaint.
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measure the impact of specific aquaculture activity
Identify and measure the biological, physico-chemical impacts of specific aquaculture farm activity on the environment. Carry out all necessary tests, including collection and processing of samples for analysis.
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develop environmental policy
Develop an organisational policy on sustainable development and compliance with environmental legislation in line with policy mechanisms used in the field of environmental protection.
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analyse environmental data
Analyse data that interpret correlations between human activities and environmental effects.
fish biology
The study of fish, shellfish or crustacean organisms, categorized into many specialised fields that cover their morphology, physiology, anatomy, behaviour, origins and distribution.
habitat restoration
The process of repairing and rehabilitating areas that suffered habitat destruction, alteration of seafloor or the threat of extinction of some animal and plant species. Habitat restoration also involves the mitigation of pollution, erosion, and deforestation. The restoration procedure to recreate biodiversity and an operating ecosystem requires knowledge on protection, management and re-establishment of species by returning biotic and abiotic factors to historical levels.
pollution legislation
Be familiar with European and National legislation regarding the risk of pollution.
ecosystem management
The set of approaches that takes into account the effect of a management decision on other elements of an ecosystem. It also addresses the optimization of diverse management strategies and the challenges that arise from fragmented landscapes.
environmental economics
The subfield of economics that studies the efficient allocation of environmental resources to the aim of minimizing the negative impacts on the natural environment.
fish anatomy
The study of the form or morphology of fish species.
- animal welfare legislation
- ecology
- environmental legislation
- environmental policy
- pollution prevention
Path to become an aquaculture environmental analyst
What it typically takes to qualify: education level, where it is a regulated profession, and where to study.
Bachelor's or equivalent level
727 programmes in 31 countries teach the core skills of this job. Plus 75 short courses that build single skills.
A few examples, taught in the language of this page:
Marine Sciences
Wageningen University · the Netherlands
Postgraduate Certificate in MetOcean for Offshore Wind
University College Cork · Ireland
These are 6 of 802.
Sources
- 1. Bron: DUO open onderwijsdata
- 2. Source: Europass Qualification Dataset Register (European Commission)
- 3. Source: Study with New Zealand (studywithnewzealand.govt.nz), Education New Zealand. Copyright in the material is owned by Education New Zealand (All content (c) Education New Zealand). Listings are provided by the education providers, are for information and promotional purposes only, and are not endorsed by Education New Zealand; each provider is responsible for its own content.
- 4. Source: Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (students.kuccps.ac.ke).
- 5. Source: South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA), All Qualifications and Unit Standards (allqs.saqa.org.za).
- 6. Source: Malta Qualifications Registry, Malta Further and Higher Education Authority (qualifications.mfhea.gov.mt).
Growth Pathways & Similar Roles
Explore typical career progression paths, adjacent skills, and similar roles to plan your next transition.
Where does aquaculture environmental analyst fit?
Similarity scores based on skill overlap from ESCO data.
For organisations
The data on this page, working for your students, clients and staff.
Frequently asked questions
What kind of scientific background is typically needed to become an aquaculture environmental analyst?
How does this role differ from a general environmental scientist?
Are there opportunities for freelance work in this field?
How much does Aquaculture Environmental Analyst pay in the United States?
Sources: ESCO O*NET ELA/EURES Cedefop BLS Data updated October 3, 2026 About our data