WORK PROCESSS SCHEDULE
FISH HATCHERY WORKER
O*NET-SOC CODE: 45-2093.00 RAPIDS CODE: 1024
DESCRIPTION: Spawns and RAPIDSes fish, for commercial purposes and performs any combination of the following tasks’ to trap and spawn game fish, incubate eggs and rear fry in fish hatchery; Diverts fish into holding tanks. Strips eggs from female fish and places eggs in moist pans. Adds milt stripped from male fish to fertilize eggs. Fills hatchery trays with fertilized eggs and places trays in incubation troughs. Turns valves and places baffles in troughs to adjust volume, depth, velocity, and temperature of water. Inspects eggs and picks out dead, infertile, and off-color eggs using suction syringe. Sorts fish according to size, coloring, and species and transfers fingerlings to rearing ponds or tanks. Feeds high protein foods or cereal with vitamins and minerals to fingerlings to induce growth to size desired for commercial use. Scatters food over surface of water by hand or activates blower that automatically scatters food over water to feed fish. Observes appearance and actions of developing fish to detect diseases, and adds medications to food and water as instructed by superior. Records field data and prepares reports of hatchery activities. Assists in design, construction, renovations and minor alterations to new/operating aquaculture systems. Checks systems operation daily or more frequently as needed. Drains and cleans troughs and ponds using brushes, chemicals and water. Makes minor repairs to facility equipment, paints buildings and maintains grounds. Arranges with buyers for sale of fish. Removes fish from pond, using dip net. Counts and weighs fish. Loads fish into tank truck or dresses and packs in ice for shipment. May perform standard tests on water samples to determine oxygen content. May spawn and rear food fish or tropical and exotic fish for commercial use. May mark migrating fish with liquid nitrogen, using hand-operated branding device. May be designated according to kind of fish RAPIDSed such as Trout Farmer.”
This is the description of Fish Hatchery Worker/Fish Farmer found in the Dictionary of Occupational Titles, U.S. Department of Labor, fourth Edition, Revised 1991.
ON-THE-JOB TRAINING
APPROXIMATE HOURS
A. Set Up Pumps and Tanks
100
Disinfect tanks refill, de-chlorinate if necessary
B. Operation of Pumps/-Identify parts
50
C. Basic Troubleshooting – Aeration & Fluid
120
D. Systems Operations Troubleshooting
100
E. Pump Repair
50
F. Cleaning of Equipment/Systems as per DOL/FDA
80
Pumps, containers, baskets, buckets, nets, graders,
hauling tanks, microscopes
G. Handling of Nets/Harvesting Equipment
100
Conduct harvest of fish clean and repair nets
H. Hauling
100
1. Set up fish for haul, load fish.
2. Treat fish, haul and stock fish
I. Knowledge of Computer-Functions
100
Record Keeping/Data Entry
J. Storm Water Management
30
K. Site Selection
100
1. New site expansion
2. Feasibility study
3. Facility design & layout
L. Mathematical Applications
100
M. Basic Hydraulics Functions
100
N. Electrical Functions
50
O. Collection/Analysis/Interpretation of Water Samples
250
Collect daily water samples and conduct appropriate
water chemistry tests, take appropriate remedial action
to correct poor water quality
P. Identification of Diseases/Administer
100
1. Chemical Treatment Dosage as Needed
2. Utilize printed and computer references
3. Calculate dosages and know side effects
Q. Propagation of Fish – Finfish/Shellfish
400
1. Obtaining gametes
2. Fertilization (triploid, diploidy)
3. Caring for spawn
4. Hatching jar/tank operation
R. Operation of Microscope
70
1. Diagnose pathogenic organisms
2. Investigate causes of fish mortality
3. Analyze water systems health
RELATED INSTRUCTION OUTLINE
APPROXIMATE HOURS
A. Introduction to Aquaculture
7
1. Historical back-ground of aquaculture
2. Types of aquaculture environments
3. Types of aquaculture enterprises
4. Species of economic importance
5. Advantages of aquaculture
6. Sources of information about aquaculture
B. The Aquatic Environment
10
1. Important variable affecting the ecological balance of a pond
2. Links in the aquatic food chain
3. The oxygen cycle in pond ecology
4. The positive and negative roles of plankton and
benthic organisms in pond ecology
5. Problems concerning carbon dioxide and water
acidity (ph) in pond ecology
6. Sources of water pollution
C. Fundamental Fish Biology
10
1. External parts of a typical fish
2. Basic external body features that permit fish to live in water
3. Internal organs of a typical fish
4. The functions of internal organs and systems of fishes
5. Life cycles of fish
6. Fish Species
D. Marketing
10
1. Fish market opportunities
2. Economy of scale
3. Factors to consider in exploring marketing alternatives
4. Food processing cuts and forms
5. Disposal of processing waste
6. Permits and regulations
E. Site Selection
5
1. Basic site requirements
2. Steps in determining water quality
3. Pond type and site evaluation
4. Basic solid types
5. Soil and topographical considerations in site selection
6. Laws, regulations, and permits required to develop a site for fish farming
F. Facility Design and Layout
5
1. Types of farm water enclosures
2. Facility requirements for food-fish production
3. Initial steps in planning an on-site processing facility
4. Factors to consider when planning pond size
5. Advantages of small versus large pond
G. Water Quality Management
20
1. Compounds and elements and their chemical formulas and symbols
2. The importance of oxygen in water quality management
3. Natural sources of water temperature variation and their effects
4. Facts about temperature management techniques
5. General guidelines for water chemistry management
6. Aquatic plant control methods
H. Fish Health Management
12
1. Skin and tissue conditions
2. Common stressors of fish
3. Common pathogenic viruses and bacteria
4. General management measures for preventing disease outbreaks
5. Treatment methods and their administration specifics
6. Regulations for chemical application in fish production
I. Feeds and Feeding
5
1. Feed components
2. Feed conversion ratio
3. Feeding rates
4. Feed types
J. Harvesting and Hauling
10
1. Advantages and limitations of total and partial harvest
2. Correct uses of harvesting and grading equipment
3. Pond-to-shed transport procedures
4. Holding, grading, and hauling
5. Chemical, their correct descriptions and rates
6. Guidelines for the care of nets
K. Commercial Production
10
1. Catfish, Trout, Baitfish, Crayfish,
2. Ornamentals and other commercial
species Salmon, Hybrid Striped Bass
L. Mariculture: All Shellfish Species
5
Shrimp, Lobster, Clams, Oysters
M. Cage Culture, Tank Culture, Raceway Culture
5
Pond Culture, Net/Pen Culture
N. Business Management
15
1. Basic record keeping
2. Bank loan record requirements
3. Obtaining venture capital
O. Basic Computer Data Entry
10
1. Computer controlled monitoring systems
2. Application of basic skill
3. Word processing
4. Intro to computer operations
P. Economics of Aquaculture
5
1. Fixed costs of facilities
2. Variable costs of production
3. Value of fish at various stages
4. Overall economics of aquaculture
TOTAL HOURS
144
