Aquaculture and Marine Harvest Labourers

(NOC 8613)

in All Farming, Fishing, Forestry, and Mining

This group includes aquaculture support workers, marine plant gatherers, shellfish diggers and other labourers in aquaculture and fishing. Aquaculture support workers work for public or private fish hatcheries and commercial aquatic farms. Marine plant gatherers and mollusk harvesters may be self-employed.

Job Outlook

Average

Read more

  • Estimate Moderate growth employment change, 2021-2023
  • Estimate 55 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
  • Estimate High rate of unemployment in 2022

Compared to: All Farming, Fishing, Forestry, and Mining

  • Estimate 415 employment change, 2021-2023
  • Estimate 1430 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
  • Estimate rate of unemployment not available for these occupation.

Hourly Pay

$14.66

Minimum

$18.00

Median

$29.33

Maximum

Annual Pay

$1,778

Minimum

$11,678

Median

$35,820

Maximum

Compared to: All Farming, Fishing, Forestry, and Mining

Hourly Pay

$13.00

Minimum

$18.00

Median

$30.00

Maximum

Annual Pay

$4,009

Minimum

$23,520

Median

$87,170

Maximum

About the job

Nature of work

This group includes aquaculture support workers, marine plant gatherers, shellfish diggers and other labourers in aquaculture and fishing. Aquaculture support workers work for public or private fish hatcheries and commercial aquatic farms. Marine plant gatherers and mollusk harvesters may be self-employed.

Job duties

Aquaculture support workers:

  • Help aquaculture technicians operate fish hatcheries or other aquatic farms.
  • Feed aquaculture stocks, vaccinate stocks, carry out culling and marking or banding techniques and report any observed irregularities in stocks.
  • Use, maintain, and clean pumps, filters, tanks, and other aquaculture equipment and clean and maintain aquaculture enclosures.
  • Keep daily records of water flow and fish samples.
  • Grade and weigh aquaculture stocks.
  • Prepare aquaculture stocks for market.
  • May operate boats aquaculture operations.

Marine plant gatherers:

  • Rake seaweed, dulse, or Irish moss from beach, rocks or shallow water and load into a cart, wagon, or other receptacles.
  • They spread gatherings to dry and remove foreign objects and transport gatherings to processing plant.

Shellfish harvesters:

  • Dig clams from beds with spades, forks or other instruments, or collect oysters and clean, sort and transport shellfish to market.

Sample job titles

  • aquaculture worker
  • clam digger
  • fish farm helper
  • fish hatchery attendant
  • lobster pound attendant
  • mussel harvester
  • shellfish harvester

Skills

  • You should have good health, physical stamina, and strength. Agility, coordination, and mechanical aptitude would be helpful. You must also be able to take direction and carry out instructions given by a supervisor.

Job requirements

  • Some high school education is usually required.
  • Shellfish harvesters require commercial fishing licences.

Other considerations

  • Most workers in these jobs work for part of the year and typically earn less than half the yearly income of employees who work for the whole year. Wages will vary according to the specific type of work performed, and annual incomes of many workers in these jobs are relatively low. They are often exposed to harsh weather conditions. The physical demands of this work may make it difficult for people to stay in these jobs for a long time.

By the numbers

Quick look

405

employed in 2016

69.1%

employed full-time

21.0%

self employed

13.6%
Icons/female Created with Sketch.
86.4%
Icons/male Created with Sketch.
49.7

median age

Compared to: All Farming, Fishing, Forestry, and Mining

14,665

employed in 2016

78.0%

employed full-time

20.0%

self employed

15.1%
Icons/female Created with Sketch.
84.9%
Icons/male Created with Sketch.
44.6

median age

Where will I likely work?

56.3%

Southern

$12,300 median annual income
12.5%

Cape Breton

$11,680 median annual income
12.5%

Halifax

$23,724 median annual income
11.3%

North Shore

$10,501 median annual income
7.5%

Annapolis Valley

N/A

Compared to: All NS Occupations

47.0%

Halifax

15.6%

North Shore

12.9%

Annapolis Valley

12.7%

Cape Breton

11.8%

Southern

Top Industries of Employment

80.9%

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

14.9%

Manufacturing

4.3%

Wholesale trade

What is the age of Employment?

30.0%

45-54

21.0%

55-64

17.0%

15-24

15.0%

35-44

12.0%

65+

5.0%

25-34

Compared to: All Farming, Fishing, Forestry, and Mining

20.7%

45-54

19.8%

15-24

19.2%

55-64

16.2%

35-44

14.8%

25-34

Top levels of education

47.6%

Less than high school

$8,744 median annual income
25.6%

High school

$11,979 median annual income
15.9%

College Diploma

$22,166 median annual income
9.8%

Trade Certification

N/A

Compared to: All Farming, Fishing, Forestry, and Mining

35.7%

Less than high school

$23,463 median annual income
30.8%

High school

$19,301 median annual income
13.7%

College Diploma

$29,551 median annual income
13.4%

Trade Certification

$31,535 median annual income
4.4%

Bachelor

$17,956 median annual income

Education & training

High School Diploma or Equivalent

High School Program

Adults without a high school diploma can contact the Nova Scotia School for Adult Learning (NSSAL) for tuition-free programming across the province. NSSAL oversees adult education programs in Nova Scotia. NSSAL partners with the Nova Scotia Community College, Adult High Schools, Université Sainte-Anne, and community-based learning organizations to deliver programs. NSSAL offers clear, accessible pathways from adult basic education to a high school credential or GED.

Institutions providing this program

Universite Sainte-Anne

Pointe-de-l'Église, NS

Nova Scotia Community College

Various, NS

Adult High Schools

Various, NS

Community Learning Organizations

Various, NS

Employment requirements & contacts

No regulating bodies were found under this occupation profile

Contacts

Nova Scotia Department of Environment and Climate Change
Halifax, NS

Additional resources

There are no additional resources for this occupation.