Education & Training Programs > Aquaculture
Aquaculture
Excel Career College
Aquaculture Technician Diploma Program
Description:
Get the training you need to become an integral part of the growing aquaculture industry and work in Vancouver Island’s coastal wilderness. Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to: Demonstrate basic computer skills for communications and reporting purposes on the job; Perform daily operations of hatchery work including farm work; Identify and recognize safety protocol and standard operating procedures within the industry; Operate equipment with industry certifications
Careers:
Work in fish farms, fishing guiding operations, hatcheries, stream restoration, processing plants, fisheries observation, shellfish cultivating and harvesting; Feeding aquaculture stocks, vaccinating stocks, performing culling and marking or branding techniques and ensuring the healthy growth of stocks; Water sampling and testing; Record keeping on water flow and stock samples; Grading and weighing stocks; Preparing stocks for market; Operating boats in marine operations; Operation and maintenance of pumps, filters, tanks and other aquaculture equipment and enclosures
Program Length:
The Aquaculture Technician Program is 25 weeks (approximately 520 hours) total including: 400 hours of classroom training, 80 hours of Industry Certifications and a practicum (40 hours of non-camp placement or 80 hours of camp placement). Excel College is accredited through the Private Training Institutions Branch
Website:
North Island College
Aquaculture Technician Program
Description:
NIC’s Aquaculture Technician certificate provides you with in-demand skills to support aquatic food production for marine, freshwater and land-based systems. This includes the production of finfish, shellfish (mollusks, crustaceans, and echinoderms), and aquatic plants (seaweeds, phytoplankton), as well as upcoming species such as sea cucumbers, sea urchins, shrimps/prawns and crayfish.
Careers:
Certificate: many entry-level positions at aquaculture facilities. Diploma: aquatic/fishery biologist, fish biologist, fisheries field technician, fish culturist, aquarist, fish hatchery technician/manager, fish stock enhancement and assessment technician, feed technician, fish health technician, research assistant, fish laboratory technician, aquaculture site manager, aquaculture production manager, fisheries manager, aquaculture/fisheries sales personnel, environmental education outreach
Program Length:
1 year (Certificate) or up to 3 years (Diploma)
Website:
North Island College
Hatchery Operations Certificate
Description:
The program curriculum focuses on hatchery operations with a specialization in fish culture. The concept of fish enhancement program will be introduced including important knowledge about aquatic ecology in relation to fish stock enhancement. The curriculum includes technical aspects of fish hatchery production, with a primary focus on healthy fish development and seedling production critical to stock enhancement for improved conservation. You’ll also learn identification of different species of fish, familiarization of the external and internal fish anatomy, life cycle and migration, important reproductive physiology and osmoregulatory function.
Careers:
NIC’s Hatchery Operations certificate provides you with in-demand skills to support fish stock enhancement through aquaculture production in freshwater fish hatcheries.
Program Length:
8-12 months
Website:
North Island College
Shellfish Aquaculture Technician certificate
Description:
NIC’s Shellfish Aquaculture Technician certificate provides you with in-demand skills to support aquatic food production for marine, freshwater and land-based systems. This includes the production of various species of oyster, mussel, clam, cockles, geoduck, abalone, seaweeds, microalgae, as well as upcoming species such as sea cucumbers, urchins, prawn/shrimp, crab, and crayfish. Curriculum includes technical aspects of production, with a primary focus on hatchery and juvenile rearing, culture in on-growing systems, biosecurity, post-harvest processing and marketing.
Careers:
After completing the certificate program, you will qualify for positions such as fisheries field technician, shellfish culturist, aquarist, shellfish hatchery technician/manager, shellfish stock enhancement and assessment technician, algologist or algal technician, shellfish health technician, research assistant and fish laboratory technician. This program prepares graduates for future senior-level roles, including shellfish aquaculture site manager, shellfish aquaculture production manager, shellfish fisheries manager, aquaculture/fisheries salesperson, shellfish processing staff, environmental education outreach worker, federal/provincial government licensing agent or fisheries/shellfish aquaculture consultant.
Program Length:
The program provides you with 460 hours of instruction and hands-on training, with an additional 85 hours of industry certifications delivered over four months.
Website:
University of British Columbia
Graduate Certificate in Aquaculture
Description:
UBC’s Graduate Certificate in Aquaculture provides an excellent entryway into this exciting and evolving area. In only four months, students will gain the theoretical and practical skills to become contributors to the aquaculture industry from a sustainability, biological, social, and economic lens. The program explores principles across the broad scope of fields involved with food production from aquaculture.
Careers:
List of possible careers at a sea-based or land-based farm site, office, feed mill, processing plant or government: https://aqua.landfood.ubc.ca/careers/
Program Length:
The certificate program is a one semester/4-month, 16-credit specialized program that is ideal for students interested in entering the aquaculture industry and for those who are ready for a career transition.
Website:
Vancouver Island University
Fishieries and Aquaculture
Description:
VIU programs provide unique practical field experience and academic skills required for exciting and challenging careers in fish and invertebrate culture, fish habitat & stock assessment, fisheries enhancement, conservation & management and research. In addition to course work, students participate in weekly practical field placements at federal & provincial salmon enhancement hatcheries, private fish and shellfish hatcheries & grow out sites, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, various provincial ministries, non-profit organizations, and environmental consulting companies.
Careers:
List of possible careers in commercial enterprises, government, research and consulting: https://scitech.viu.ca/fisheries-aquaculture
Program Length:
2 years (Diploma) and 4 years (Bachelor Degree)
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