Occupation intelligence

on foot aquatic resources collector

Snapshot

Explore a hands-on career connecting with the ocean! As an on foot aquatic resources collector, you’ll be directly involved in harvesting valuable resources from coastal areas, contributing to industries like food production and aquaculture.

Summary

As an on foot aquatic resources collector, your work centers around gathering specific aquatic life and plant matter from intertidal zones and shallow coastal waters. This often involves walking along shorelines, wading in water, and using simple tools to collect spat (young shellfish), seaweed, shellfish, crustaceans, echinoderms, and other designated aquatic resources. The work is physically demanding and requires an understanding of tides, weather conditions, and sustainable harvesting practices.

Key responsibilities
  • • Identifying and selecting target aquatic resources (e.g., specific types of seaweed or shellfish).
  • • Harvesting resources manually, following established quotas and regulations.
  • • Transporting collected resources to processing or storage areas.
Labour market

Where this occupation is in demand

Reported labour shortages and surpluses, by year. Published for occupation groups, not for individual job titles.

Shortage reportedSurplus reportedReported in another yearNot covered by this source

Deeper colour: reported the same way in more consecutive years.

Figures cover Agricultural, forestry and fishery labourers — 14 jobs including this one.

4 of 6 in shortage20258 of 21 growing85kopenings to 2035

In shortage: Bulgaria, Cyprus, Denmark, Latvia.

Longest-running shortage: Latvia, 3 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.

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Quick fit check

Could on foot aquatic resources collector fit you?

Answer three quick questions. This is not a full assessment — it is a teaser to help you decide whether to compare your profile.

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Do you enjoy tasks that require Independence?

Do you enjoy tasks that require Integrity?

NexFuture™

Future Outlook for on foot aquatic resources collector

The outlook for on foot aquatic resources collector 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.

Play the future

How could on foot aquatic resources collector change as AI adoption grows?

This role is likely to change gradually, with AI supporting selected tasks rather than replacing the whole occupation.

Significant task-level transformation is estimated in 13 years (around 2039) under the selected Expected Pace scenario.
~35%
Resilience
Automation Risk
EXP~55%
Human advantage
MOAT~40%

Illustrative scenario based on task automatability — not a forecast. Values are rounded the further ahead you look.

2026
2033
2044
AI Adoption Speed:

How AI may change this role

Deterministic, model-based interpretation of current role signals — not a guarantee of replacement.

Human-owned 40% Human-owned
What still depends on people

Most tasks here are AI-assistable rather than purely human-led.

The Human Edge To stay ahead in this role, focus on fisheries legislation and fishing industry. These human-centric skills are the hardest for AI to replicate in the next 20 years.
Assist 34% Assist
Where AI may become a co-pilot
  • monitor aquaculture stock health standards
  • preserve fish products
  • manage aquatic resources
Automate 50% Automate
Tasks most exposed to automation

No single task here is highly automatable yet.

Detailed Analysis

Vital Signs & AI Vectors

AI Exposure Vectors

0-100%
Robotic & Physical Automation 34%

Exposure to physical automation, robotics, and sensor-driven task displacement

AI / Machine Learning 0%

Exposure to AI-assisted analysis, pattern recognition, and predictive modelling tasks

Generative AI 0%

Exposure to content generation, creative augmentation, and large language model tools

Cognitive Software 0%

Exposure to workflow automation, decision-support software, and process digitisation

Technical Details
Methodology: NexFuture v3.0 Sources: O*NET® 30.3, ESCO v1.2.1 Updated: Aug 2026

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.

Day in the life

What people in this role usually do

Agriculture

Day in the life

A typical day as a on foot aquatic resources collector

09
09:00 · Morning
manage aquatic resources
Collect and select fish or other organisms from the culture environment. Handle, clean and classify the specimen. Prepare for harvesting and transport to the point of sale. Adapt techniques depending on the specific species, the next step in the process, and the final purpose.
10
10:30 · Mid-morning
collect aquatic resources
Collects spat and seaweed, as well as shellfish or any other aquatic animal (i.e. crustacean and echinoderms) or vegetable resource. Uses the appropriate equipment depending on the species.
12
12:00 · Midday
collect broodstock
Source broodstock from fisheries and held them in maturation tanks before collecting their seeds.
14
14:00 · Afternoon
collect live fish
Gather fish using techniques which minimise the stress caused to fish and avoid fish escapes occurring.
15
15:30 · Late afternoon
manage spat collection equipment
Assemble spat collection equipment to be deployed at sea. Deploy the spat collection equipment to maximise the yield and maintain it in working order.
17
17:00 · Wrap-up
monitor aquaculture stock health standards
Perform activities that ensure monitoring and implementation of aquaculture health standards and health analysis of the fish population.

Task order is illustrative. Individual days vary.

Software & Technologies & Knowledge areas
Software & Technologies
Catchlog Trading CatchlogDeerDaysInventory management systemsMaxSea TIMEZEROMaxSea Time Zero Navigator NOAAMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareOLRAC Electronic Logbook Software SolutionP-Sea WindPlotSignet Nobeltec CatchStrat-Tech Deer Hunting ExpertTrimble MyTopo Terrain Navigator ProWinchester Ammunition Ballistics Calculator
Knowledge areas
  • fisheries legislation

    The study and analysis of different fisheries management approaches taking into account international treaties and industry norms in order to analyze fisheries management regulations.

Cross-sector skills
  • fishing industry
Essential skills
tending and breeding aquatic animals
  • monitor aquaculture stock health standards

    Perform activities that ensure monitoring and implementation of aquaculture health standards and health analysis of the fish population.

  • manage aquatic resources

    Collect and select fish or other organisms from the culture environment. Handle, clean and classify the specimen. Prepare for harvesting and transport to the point of sale. Adapt techniques depending on the specific species, the next step in the process, and the final purpose.

  • collect live fish

    Gather fish using techniques which minimise the stress caused to fish and avoid fish escapes occurring.

  • collect aquatic resources

    Collects spat and seaweed, as well as shellfish or any other aquatic animal (i.e. crustacean and echinoderms) or vegetable resource. Uses the appropriate equipment depending on the species.

  • manage spat collection equipment

    Assemble spat collection equipment to be deployed at sea. Deploy the spat collection equipment to maximise the yield and maintain it in working order.

  • monitor live fish collection

    Monitor conditions during gathering of live fish, including stress in the fish.

fabricating food and related products
  • preserve fish products

    Place and classify fish products for proper conservation. Maintain suitable conditions for the conservation of fishery products.

Skill DNA

Skill DNA

Work personality traits and values that define this role

Key traits you need
Achievement/Effort Persistence Initiative Leadership Cooperation Concern for Others Social Orientation Self-Control Stress Tolerance Adaptability/Flexibility Dependability Attention to Detail Integrity Independence Innovation Analytical Thinking
Key rewards you can expect
AchievementWorking Condit…RecognitionRelationshipsSupportIndependence
Career progression

Growth Pathways & Similar Roles

Explore typical career progression paths, adjacent skills, and similar roles to plan your next transition.

Career landscape

Where does on foot aquatic resources collector fit?

This role
on foot aquatic resources collector This role
Growth paths

Similarity scores based on skill overlap from ESCO data.

Common questions

Frequently asked questions

What kind of training or experience is helpful for this role?
While formal education isn't always required, experience in fishing, aquaculture, or marine biology can be beneficial. Familiarity with local marine ecosystems and sustainable harvesting techniques is highly valued. Some employers may provide on-the-job training.
What are the typical working conditions like?
Expect to work outdoors in varying weather conditions, often in wet and muddy environments. The work can be physically demanding, requiring prolonged standing, walking, and bending. Safety precautions, such as appropriate footwear and protective gear, are essential.
Are there any specific regulations or permits I need to be aware of?
Harvesting aquatic resources is often regulated by local and national authorities. You’ll likely need to comply with specific quotas, permitted harvesting areas, and sustainable practices. Research the regulations in your area before beginning work.
On Foot Aquatic Resources Collector — is there a shortage in Europe?
Yes. In the 2025 ELA/EURES edition, a shortage was reported in 4 of the 6 European countries that assessed this occupation group: Bulgaria, Cyprus, Denmark, Latvia. Latvia has reported one for 3 consecutive years. These assessments are published per occupation group rather than per job title.