Water-based Aquaculture Worker
Snapshot
Water-based aquaculture workers carry out manual activities in the ongrowing processes of cultured aquatic organisms in water-based suspended systems (floating or submerged structures). They participate in extraction operations and the handling of organisms for commercialisation. Water-based aquaculture workers maintain and clean facilities (nets, mooring ropes, cages).
Water-based aquaculture workers are essential to the ongrowing process of farmed fish, shellfish, and other aquatic life. Your days involve hands-on work maintaining and operating aquaculture facilities, ensuring the health and well-being of the organisms being raised. This role combines physical labor with a focus on precision and attention to detail, contributing directly to the commercialization of aquaculture products.
- • Monitoring aquatic organisms for health and growth, and reporting any concerns.
- • Cleaning and maintaining nets, cages, and mooring ropes within water-based systems.
- • Participating in the extraction and handling of aquatic organisms for processing and sale.
Where this occupation is in demand
Reported labour shortages and surpluses, by year. Published for occupation groups, not for individual job titles.
Deeper colour: reported the same way in more consecutive years.
Figures cover Agricultural, forestry and fishery labourers — 14 jobs including this one.
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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Could water-based aquaculture worker fit you?
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Future Outlook for water-based aquaculture worker
The outlook for water-based aquaculture worker 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 water-based aquaculture worker 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.
How could water-based aquaculture worker 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.
How AI may change this role
Deterministic, model-based interpretation of current role signals — not a guarantee of replacement.
What still depends on people
- work in a fishery team
- swim
Where AI may become a co-pilot
- assess cage water quality
- observe abnormal fish behaviour
- depurate shellfish
Tasks most exposed to automation
- collect growth rate information
- collect biological data
Vital Signs & AI Vectors
AI Exposure Vectors
0-100%Exposure to physical automation, robotics, and sensor-driven task displacement
Exposure to AI-assisted analysis, pattern recognition, and predictive modelling tasks
Exposure to content generation, creative augmentation, and large language model tools
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
Agriculture
A typical day as a water-based aquaculture worker
09 09:00 · Morning assess cage water quality
10 10:30 · Mid-morning carry out fish transportation
12 12:00 · Midday carry out preparations for fish disease specialist
14 14:00 · Afternoon collect dead fish
15 15:30 · Late afternoon depurate shellfish
17 17:00 · Wrap-up maintain shellfish depuration equipment
Task order is illustrative. Individual days vary.
operation of lifting gears
The methods used to operate different types of lifting gears, such as winches, telescopic loaders, sea cranes, forklift trucks.
operation of transport equipment
Use of transportation gear, such as car, forklift, truck, tractor, trailer, convoy.
rope manipulation
Rope manipulation which relates to knotting and splicing.
fish anatomy
The study of the form or morphology of fish species.
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.
fishing gear
Identification of the different gear used in capture fisheries and their functional capacity.
- fish welfare regulations
- pedagogy
- animal welfare legislation
- environmental legislation
- fish identification and classification
- fishing industry
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depurate shellfish
Place shellfish into large tanks of clean water that is continuously disinfected to allow purging of physical impurities.
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collect dead fish
Gather dead fish in recipients like tanks and cages.
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monitor aquaculture stock health standards
Perform activities that ensure monitoring and implementation of aquaculture health standards and health analysis of the fish population.
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prepare fish treatment facilities
Prepare fish treatment facilities to effectively isolate contaminated fish during treatment. Control the application of treatments to avoid contaminating other stock, containers and the wider environment.
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perform fish grading operations
Gather live fish using techniques which minimise the stress caused to fish and avoid fish escapes occurring. Grade them manually or using equipment. Report on the grading operation, ensuring compliance with specifications.
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collect live fish
Gather fish using techniques which minimise the stress caused to fish and avoid fish escapes occurring.
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maintain shellfish depuration equipment
Maintain all utensils, equipment and work surfaces in clean condition. Disinfect frequently tanks with chlorine or other disinfecting agents approved by State regulatory authorities.
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prepare fish holding units
Clean the holding unit before receiving fish. Determine the water volume and flow rate. Prevent leaks. Conduct swim through.
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harvest aquatic resources
Grade fish, molluscs, crustaceans manually and using equipment in preparation for harvesting. Harvest shellfish for human consumption. Harvest live fish for live transport. Harvest all species in a humane manner. Handle harvested fish in a manner which maintains flesh quality.
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operate hatchery trays
Fill hatchery trays with fertilised eggs and place trays in incubation troughs.
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measure water quality parameters
Quality assure water by taking into consideration various elements, such as temperature.
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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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measure water flow
Measure water flow, water intakes and catchments.
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preserve fish samples for diagnosis
Collect and preserve larval, fish and mollusc samples or lesions for diagnosis by fish disease specialists.
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collect fish samples for diagnosis
Collect fish and shellfish samples for diagnosis by fish diseases specialists.
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collect growth rate information
Collect information on growth rate in farm aquatic species.
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collect biological data
Collect biological specimens, record and summarise biological data for use in technical studies, developing environmental management plans and biological products.
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carry out fish disease prevention measures
Carry out disease prevention measures for fish, molluscs, and crustaceans for land-based and water-based aquaculture facilities.
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carry out preparations for fish disease specialist
Prepare environment and equipment for fish disease specialist treatments, including vaccination treatments.
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operate small craft
Operate small craft used for transport and feeding.
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prepare for small craft operation
Prepare for personnel operation of small craft, both with licence and without licence.
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assess cage water quality
Analyse the quality of water by monitoring the state of temperature and oxygen, among other parameters.
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work in a fishery team
Work as part of a crew or team, and meet team deadlines and responsibilities together.
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maintain waterbased aquaculture facilities
Clean off fouling and maintain floating and submerged aquaculture structures. Repair floating and submerged aquaculture structures.
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stock fish
Place fish into holding units. Maintain adequate environmental conditions within the unit.
Skill DNA
Work personality traits and values that define this role
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Scan to continue on mobilePath to become a water-based aquaculture worker
What it typically takes to qualify: education level, where it is a regulated profession, and where to study.
Primary education
Growth Pathways & Similar Roles
Explore typical career progression paths, adjacent skills, and similar roles to plan your next transition.
Where does water-based aquaculture worker fit?
Similarity scores based on skill overlap from ESCO data.
Frequently asked questions
- What kind of physical demands are involved in this role?
- This occupation requires a good level of physical fitness. You’ll be working outdoors in various weather conditions, often involving lifting, bending, and working on water. Stamina and the ability to handle manual tasks are important.
- Are there opportunities for advancement within water-based aquaculture?
- While this is a skilled technical role, experience and demonstrated expertise can lead to supervisory positions or specialized roles within aquaculture operations. Further training and education can also open up opportunities for career progression.
- What safety precautions are important to be aware of?
- Working around water and aquatic life presents specific hazards. Strict adherence to safety protocols, including proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE), is crucial. Awareness of weather conditions, potential marine life interactions, and equipment operation procedures is essential.
- Is there a shortage of Water-Based Aquaculture Worker 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.
- How much does Water-Based Aquaculture Worker pay in the United States?
- $36,150 a year at the median, as of 2025-05. State medians run from $28,410 to $50,450. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is a United States figure and not a projection for Europe.