Fish and other sea creatures are an important part of our lakes, seas, and oceans, but they can sometimes have trouble surviving. Other animals eat them, people catch them, and environmental conditions can kill them. However, fish hatcheries help them survive by giving them a good start in life. Working as a fish hatchery manager can be a very rewarding job for anyone who enjoys nature and scientific research.

Billions of people eat fish and other seafood every year, besides the seals, whales, dolphins, and other animals that also depend on the same types of food. All of this, together with pollution, has made it very difficult for many species to survive. In Canada and other countries, fish farming, also known as aquaculture, has helped to reduce some of these problems. In nature, fish eggs are in constant danger. In fish hatcheries, scientists take these eggs to a safe place where they can hatch and grow enough to be able to survive on their own.

Most of Canada’s work in hatcheries happens on the east and west coasts, where most of the fish and other creatures are. The most common animals in hatcheries are salmon, mussels, oysters, trout, clams, and scallops. However, all of the provinces, as well as the Yukon, have hatcheries for trout and other varieties of fish. Depending on where you want to live, you can choose to specialize in any of these types of animals.

To some extent, managing a fish hatchery is like any other management job. Dealing with staff issues and speaking with the public, writing reports, buying equipment, and handling budgets are all part of a fish hatchery manager’s job. Having some training in business management is a good idea, since that is a large part of the duties. Still, fish hatchery managers need to know some of the specifics of the field, and getting a university degree in marine biology or a related subject can be helpful. For most people, this education would take at least four years.

Many fish hatchery managers work regular hours, mainly in offices or holding meetings with staff, scientists, and others. Many hatcheries are connected to governments or universities, and managers may spend much of their time working with these institutions. In small hatcheries, they might also get involved in going out to the oceans and streams to collect the eggs for hatching, but their role is mostly to help others do their work.

The job market in fish farming is generally growing, making it easier for people to get work in this area. Wages start at about $29,000 per year and can rise to $42,000 per year, or higher, with experience. The work can be intense at times, but it is not physically demanding, and people can stay in this career until they reach retirement age.

Working as a fish hatchery manager can be a good choice for anyone who wants to help preserve the world’s oceans and lakes. If you enjoy scientific research and like to work with people, this could be a good job for you.

Bibliography:

Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance. “Products & Regions.” https://www.aquaculture.ca/products-regions.

Economic Research Institute. Fish Hatchery Manager Salary
in Ontario, Canada.” https://www.erieri.com/salary/job/fish-hatchery-manager/canada/ontario.

Economic Research Institute. “Fish Hatchery Manager Salary
in British Columbia, Canada.”  https://www.erieri.com/salary/job/fish-hatchery-manager/canada/british-columbia/vancouver.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Major SEP Projects: Fish Hatcheries.” https://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/sep-pmvs/projects-projets/index-eng.html.

Work BC. “Managers in Aquaculture (NOC 0823).” https://www.workbc.ca/careers/0823