Fish Farm Laborer

Job description

Workers will: prepare, repair and clean catfish hatchery for use prior to spawning season. Repair spawning containers and place into brood ponds as water temperature rises in the early spring. Check spawning containers by "feeling" inside container for any fish or spawns. Remove spawns from containers and deposit into aerated transport tank. Move spawns from the ponds to the hatchery where spawns will be prepared and placed into hatching troughs by acclimating eggs from pond environment to hatchery, picking eggs by hand, moving fry within hatchery, feed fry 12 to 18 times daily, clean hatching troughs by hand as needed, clean and disinfect hatching basket and troughs after every use, general hatchery cleanup. Assist with loading and transferring fry to nursery ponds via aerated transport tanks. Treat eggs for fungus and bacteria twice daily. After spawning, remove spawning containers and consolidate brood fish to holding ponds. Help with closing down hatchery and repair and clean catfish hatchery for use for the following year.

Workers will also: Fertilize fry ponds by hand and with mechanized spreaders multiple times per day. Maintain pond and hatchery/shop areas by removing weeds, cutting grass, etc. Maintain barn areas by helping to clean and organize fish farming equipment. Maintain aeration equipment, as needed. Unload feed deliveries to farm and load feed daily on farm for feeding, as well as maintain feeding equipment. Feed fish using mechanized equipment daily. Deploy, repair, and maintain harvest equipment and nets. Harvest brood fish, fingerlings, and food fish from ponds using mechanized seining equipment in a fashion standard to the industry from set up to completion; load fish into a live haul transport trailer(s), either for delivery to customers or for on farm movements; unload fish as needed on farm; monitor water temperature and oxygen levels using industry standard testing equipment daily/nightly; remove any remaining catfish from pond bottoms at pond draining by hand and place in hauling containers. Collect and remove any mortalities as needed through production season.

Special Requirements

Job will require periods when workers may be exposed to varying weather conditions and extensive pushing, pulling, sitting, walking, stooping, bending, or repetitive movements. Random post-hire drug testing at the employer's expense is required. Discovery of use of illegal drugs or substances is cause for immediate termination.