Fish farm manager : Entry requirements

Relevant degree subjects include aquaculture and fisheries management and applied chemical and biological sciences. The following subjects may also improve your chances:

• agriculture;
• marine sciences/oceanography;
• biology;
• environmental science (biological);
• veterinary science;
• zoology.

A relevant degree may be useful but is not essential; practical skills and experience are considered more important.

HNDs are being phased out in favour of foundation degree courses so fewer are becoming available for study. The following subjects may improve your chances:

• agriculture;
• biology;
• environmental science (biological);
• fisheries studies.

Entry without a degree or HND is commonly possible. Many fish farms are very small and do not demand high-level academic qualifications.

A pre-entry postgraduate qualification is not needed. However, attending a postgraduate course in aquaculture and related fisheries management courses can be advantageous for those who would like to work in this sector, and a PhD is essential for those wishing to go into research. Typical areas of research include disease, reproduction and genetics, nutrition, production systems, as well as environmental factors that affect the aquatic world.

Modern apprenticeships can be offered by certain farms. Programmes can differ throughout the UK so check with your national apprenticeship provider for full details.

Pre-entry experience is essential. It is highly unlikely that anyone without the practical skills used in fish farming would be successful in gaining a post.

Candidates need to show evidence of the following:

• high levels of physical fitness;
• people and resource management skills;
• business and social skills: managers have to deal with customers regularly (often major wholesalers);
• numeracy, for calculating feeding regimes and for invoicing purposes.

It can be helpful to get a vacation job on a fish farm to develop the practical skills and to see if you are suited to the work. Investigate postgraduate courses. Recruitment is throughout the year so check relevant publications regularly. Contacting fish farm owners speculatively is likely to be more productive. This is a highly competitive area. There are good opportunities in Scotland and on other larger farms. Contact the farms directly, or recruitment companies, to enquire about vacation work.

For more information, see work experience and internships and search courses and research.