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ESCO occupation

aquaculture cage technician

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Aquaculture cage technicians operate in the production of aquatic organisms in water-based (freshwater, brackish water, salt water) on-growing processes in cages.

6221.1 ISCO 6221 ESCO source
Competences
56
Groups
4
Essential
38
Optional
18

Competences and skills

56 ESCO relations
Essential knowledge 6 competences

Occupation specific

0 competences

No competences in this bucket.

Sector-specific

6 competences
effect of water currents

The impact of water currents on fish farms, in cages, ponds, lagoons and rivers.

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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.

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fish grading

The method of how fish are graded according to their different characteristics: specification, size, quality and condition.

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operation of lifting gears

The methods used to operate different types of lifting gears, such as winches, telescopic loaders, sea cranes, forklift trucks.

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pests and diseases

Types of pests and diseases and the principles of spreading and treating them.

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rates of growth assessment

The different methods used to evaluate the growth of most important cultivated species.

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Cross-sector

0 competences

No competences in this bucket.

Essential skills and competences 32 competences

Occupation specific

2 competences
carry out maintenance on cage equipment and machinery

Carry out maintenance on cage equipment and machinery, such as containment systems, lifting gear, transportation gear, disinfection equipment.

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supervise cage net systems

Supervise cage net changing and net repairs. Maintain and clean floats and mooring ropes.

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Sector-specific

25 competences
apply fish treatments

Apply prescribed fish treatments under supervision, including assistance with vaccination immersion and injection procedures.

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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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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 preparations for fish disease specialist

Prepare environment and equipment for fish disease specialist treatments, including vaccination treatments.

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check diving equipment

Check diving equipment for valid certification to ensure its suitability. Ensure that any diving equipment is examined by a competent person before use, at least once on each day on which it is to be used. Ensure that it is adequately tested and repaired.

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identify common aquatic species diseases

Identify common aquatic species diseases. Observe and describe common symptoms nd lesions.

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implement fin fish feeding regimes

Implement daily fin fish feeding regimes to take account of environmental variations. Check feeding regimes are followed through the accurate implementation of feeding procedures. Implement adjustments to feeding regimes to take account of fluctuations in production performance and variations in environmental conditions. Control specialist feeding regimes to support specified production requirements. Investigate changes in feeding behaviour to determine cause and required corrective action.

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maintain aquaculture cage equipment

Ensure maintenance of aquaculture cage equipment, by carrying out tasks such as cleaning floats and arranging ropes in cages.

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maintain grading equipment

Set up equipment and areas to effectively grade fish according to requirements. Maintain the equipment in a serviceable condition throughout the grading process. Clean and store the equipment after use.

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measure water flow

Measure water flow, water intakes and catchments.

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measure water quality parameters

Quality assure water by taking into consideration various elements, such as temperature.

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monitor aquaculture feeding behaviour

Monitor aquaculture feeding behaviour of farm animals. Collect information on the growth of the animals, and forecast future growth. Assess biomass taking mortality into account. Recommend improvements of nutrition and feeding protocols in support of sustainable development.

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monitor feeding systems

Make sure that feeders, feeding system and monitoring instruments are working. Analyse feedback from the instruments.

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monitor fish health status

Monitor the health of fish, based on feeding and general behaviour. Interpret environmental parameters and analyse mortalities.

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monitor fish mortality rates

Monitor fish mortalities and assess possible causes.

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monitor larval growth

Monitor the growth and health of the larvae.

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observe abnormal fish behaviour

Observe, describe and monitor abnormal fish behaviour in respect of feeding, swimming, surfacing.

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operate small craft

Operate small craft used for transport and feeding.

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perform water chemistry analysis

Perform water chemistry analysis to identify and quantify the chemical components and properties of water samples.

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perform water treatments

Perform regularly water testing, ensuring that water management and filtration processes follow reasonable management practices, industry standards, or commonly accepted farming practices. Record previous water contaminations, the source of contamination and contamination remedied. Take mitigation measures to guard against further contamination.

green
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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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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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screen live fish deformities

Examine live fish, including larvae, to detect deformities related to body shape, jaw deformity, vertebral deformity and skeletal deformity. If not detected, these could lead to risks for fish, such as swimming performance, feed efficiency, limit of the feed, infectious disease and lethality.

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swim

Move through water by means of the limbs.

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use water disinfection equipment

Operate equipment for water disinfection, using different methods and techniques, such as mechanical filtration, depending on needs.

green
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Cross-sector

5 competences
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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control aquatic production environment

Assess the impact of biological conditions such as algae and fouling organisms by managing water intakes, catchments and oxygen use.

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maintain diving equipment

Perform maintenance actions, including small repairs, on diving equipment.

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manage waste

Manage or dispose of significant amounts of waste materials and/or hazardous materials, in accordance with legislation, thereby respecting environmental and company responsibilities. Ensure required licenses and permits are in place and reasonable management practices, industry standards, or commonly accepted farming practices followed.

green
Scope note
Includes recycling regulations.
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perform diving interventions

Perform hyperbaric interventions at a maximum pressure of 4 atmospheres. Prepare and review the personal equipment and the auxiliary material. Perform and supervise the dive. Realise maintenance of the diving equipment and auxiliary material. Apply security measures to ensure the divers' safety when realising deep immersions.

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Optional knowledge 1 competence

Occupation specific

0 competences

No competences in this bucket.

Sector-specific

1 competence
rope manipulation

Rope manipulation which relates to knotting and splicing.

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Cross-sector

0 competences

No competences in this bucket.

Optional skills and competences 17 competences

Occupation specific

0 competences

No competences in this bucket.

Sector-specific

9 competences
collect broodstock

Source broodstock from fisheries and held them in maturation tanks before collecting their seeds.

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conduct fish mortality studies

Collect fish mortality data. Identify causes of mortality and provide solutions .

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handle harvested fish

Handle harvested fish in a manner which maintains flesh quality. Effectively store fish in chilled storage.

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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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maintain cage nets

Execute cleaning, drying and storage of removed cage nets.

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maintain ropes

Maintain splices and knots in ropes.

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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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set up fish harvesting equipment

Set up fish harvesting equipment for the efficient slaughter of the fish and subsequent storage.

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undertake continuous professional development in fishery operations

Initiate and progress in life long learning of the different challenging activities and operations which take place on board of a fishing vessel or in an aquaculture facility.

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Cross-sector

8 competences
ensure aquaculture personnel health and safety

Make sure that health and safety procedures have been established and followed across all aquaculture facilities including cages. Ensure that personnel and general public are instructed and all work activities are carried out according to relevant health and safety regulations.

Scope note
Operate with due regard to personal safety and that of co-workers and the general public in accordance with relevant legislation. Tasks may include responding to emergencies in workplace, maintain operational condition of life-saving, fire-fighting and other safety systems, report and record incidents, fight fires in workplace, monitor and maintain health, safety and security of workplace, reduce risk in workplace.
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have computer literacy

Utilise computers, IT equipment and modern day technology in an efficient way.

digital
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maintain internal communication systems

Maintain an effective internal communication system among employees and department managers.

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make time-critical decisions

Pursue optimal time-critical decision making within the organisation.

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operate an emergency communication system

Efficiently operate common communication systems used in emergencies, such as base station mobile transmitters and receivers, portable transmitters and receivers, repeaters, cellular phones, pagers, automated vehicle locators, and satellite phones as required.

digital
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speak different languages

Master foreign languages to be able to communicate in one or more foreign languages.

research
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use communication devices

Operate communication devices in order to interact with customers, colleagues, and others.

digital
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use different communication channels

Make use of various types of communication channels such as verbal, handwritten, digital and telephonic communication with the purpose of constructing and sharing ideas or information.

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