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Aquaculture or Fisheries Technician

Aquaculture or Fisheries Technician
ANZSCO Code: 311114 / Group C

Aquaculture or Fisheries Technicians assist Aquaculture Farmers and Fisheries Scientists in raising and managing aquatic stock by undertaking onshore and offshore technical fish husbandry tasks sampling water and analysing data from ponds, pens and tanks and identifying common diseases and pests, and performs tests and experiments and provides technical support in areas such as research, production, servicing and marketing.

Occupation description

Aquaculture or Fisheries Technicians
assist Aquaculture Farmers and Fisheries Scientists in raising and managing aquatic stock by undertaking onshore and offshore technical fish husbandry tasks sampling water and analysing data from ponds, pens and tanks and identifying common diseases and pests, and performs tests and experiments and provides technical support in areas such as research, production, servicing and marketing.

Occupations considered suitable under this ANZSCO code:

  • Fisheries Technical Officer
  • Hatchery Technician (Aquaculture)

Occupations not considered under this ANZSCO code:

  • Animal Husbandry Technician
  • Agricultural Technician

Aquaculture or Fisheries Technician is a VETASSESS Group C occupation

This occupation requires a qualification assessed as comparable to the educational level of an Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) Diploma or higher.

Applicants can fulfil the assessment criteria for this occupation in four different ways.

*If employment is prior to the completion of the qualification at the required level, an applicant must have at least one year of highly relevant employment at an appropriate skill level within the last five years. The remaining three years of pre-qualifying period may be within the last ten years.

A positive assessment of both qualification level and employment duration is required for a positive Skills Assessment outcome.

Group C - Jan 2026

Description of Pathways 

The information below describes the available pathways for a Skills Assessment under Group C. Please note that in order to achieve a successful Skills Assessment Outcome, a suitable assessment for both qualifications and employment is required.

Pathway 1 

This pathway requires a qualification assessed as comparable to the education level of an Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) Diploma or higher and in a field highly relevant to the nominated occupation. 

Diploma or higher includes AQF Advanced Diploma, Associate Degree, Bachelor Degree, Graduate Diploma, Master Degree or Doctoral Degree.

In addition, it is essential for applicants to meet the following employment criteria:

  • at least one year of post-qualification employment at an appropriate skill level, undertaken in the last five years,
  • working 20 hours or more per week, and
  • highly relevant to the nominated occupation.

Pathway 2

This pathway requires a qualification assessed as comparable to the education level of an Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) Diploma or higher and in a field not highly relevant to the nominated occupation. 

Diploma or higher includes AQF Advanced Diploma, Associate Degree, Bachelor Degree, Graduate Diploma, Master Degree or Doctoral Degree.

An additional qualification in a highly relevant field of study at a minimum AQF Certificate IV level is required. Additional qualifications in a highly relevant field of study include those comparable to the AQF Certificate IV. 

In addition, it is essential for applicants to meet the following employment criteria:

  • at least one year of post-qualification employment at an appropriate skill level, undertaken in the last five years,
  • working 20 hours or more per week, and
  • highly relevant to the nominated occupation.

Pathway 3

This pathway requires a qualification assessed as comparable to the education level of an Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) Diploma or higher and in a field not highly relevant to the nominated occupation. 

Diploma or higher includes AQF Advanced Diploma, Associate Degree, Bachelor Degree, Graduate Diploma, Master Degree or Doctoral Degree.

In addition, it is essential for applicants to meet the following employment criteria:

  • at least two years of post-qualification employment at an appropriate skill level, undertaken in the last five years,
  • working 20 hours or more per week, and
  • highly relevant to the nominated occupation.

Pathway 4

This pathway requires a qualification assessed as comparable to the education level of an Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) Diploma or higher with or without a highly relevant major field of study to the nominated occupation.

Diploma or higher includes AQF Advanced Diploma, Associate Degree, Bachelor Degree, Graduate Diploma, Master Degree or Doctoral Degree.

In addition, it is essential for applicants to meet the following employment criteria:

  • at least four years of employment at an appropriate skill level that includes at least one year of highly relevant employment within the last five years before applying,
  • working 20 hours or more per week, and
  • highly relevant to the nominated occupation.

Qualification & employment criteria

AQF Diploma

Focus areas include:

  • Aquaculture 
  • Marine Science
  • Marine Biology
  • Fisheries 
  • Agriculture

Employment

Highly relevant tasks include: 

  • identifying pathogenic micro-organisms and insects, parasites, fungi and weeds harmful to crops, livestock and aquatic stock, and assisting in devising methods of control
  • examining environmental and other factors that influence the growth, health and production of aquatic stock
  • analysing produce to set and maintain standards of quality
    monitoring livestock and aquatic stock to gauge the effectiveness of feed formulae
  • assisting in controlled breeding experiments to develop improved crop, livestock and aquatic stock strains
  • artificially inseminating livestock for breeding purposes
  • providing advice on breeding selection and techniques, collecting and collating data for research and animal husbandry purposes
  • may advise producers on farming techniques and management and production processes

Employment information

Aquaculture or Fisheries Technicians assists aquaculture farmers and fisheries scientists in raising and managing aquatic stock by undertaking onshore and offshore technical fish husbandry tasks sampling water and analysing data from ponds, pens and tanks and identifying common diseases and pests. They perform tests and experiments and provides technical support in areas such as research, production, servicing and marketing.

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How to apply

If you're a professional choosing to migrate to Australia, chances are you're likely to be assessed by us. We assess 361 different professional occupations, assessing your skills, experience and qualifications.

1

Find

Find the VETASSESS occupation that most closely fits your skills and experience. 

2

Match

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3

Prepare

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4

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