Job description Oyster Picker in the Chaudière-Appalaches Region

Find out what work is like for an oyster picker in Canada. This work description is applicable to all Aquaculture and marine harvest labourers (NOC 85102).

Aquaculture and marine harvest labourers

Description

Aquaculture and marine harvest labourers include aquaculture support workers, marine plant gatherers, shellfish diggers and other labourers in aquaculture and fishing. Aquaculture support workers are employed by public or private fish hatcheries and commercial aquatic farms. Marine plant gatherers and mollusk harvesters may be self-employed.

Work week duration

Aquaculture and marine harvest labourers usually work between 35 to 40 hours per week.
Between 35 to 40 hours

Job duties

Here are some of the main activities and tasks that Aquaculture and marine harvest labourers have to perform, and some of the physical demands they involve:

  • Assist aquaculture technicians in the operation of fish hatcheries or other aquatic farms
  • Feed aquaculture stocks, vaccinate stocks, perform culling and marking or banding techniques and report any observed irregularities in stocks
  • Operate, maintain and clean pumps, filters, tanks and other aquaculture equipment and clean and maintain aquaculture enclosures
  • Keep daily records of water flow and fish, shellfish and marine plant samples
  • Grade and weigh aquaculture stocks
  • Prepare aquaculture stocks for market
  • Rake seaweed, dulse or Irish moss from beach, rocks or shallow water and load into a cart, wagon or other receptacles
  • Spread gatherings to dry and remove foreign objects
  • Transport gatherings to processing plant
  • Dig clams from beds with spades, forks or other instruments, or collect other mollusks
  • Clean, sort and transport mollusks to market
  • May operate boats for aquaculture operations.

Physical demands Help - Physical Demands

  • Handling material manually
  • Standing
  • Making repetitive motions
  • Keeping or regaining balance
  • Bending or twisting the body
  • Walking and running

Physical demands

Physical demands are the physical activities that the job requires the worker to do. Physical demands are selected according to the likeliness that workers will have to perform them for at least half of the time they spend at work.

Workplaces and employers

Here are the typical workplaces where Aquaculture and marine harvest labourers are employed and some of their main characteristics:

  • Public or private fish hatcheries
  • Commercial aquacultural farms

Work environment Help - Physical Work Environment

  • Outside, exposed to weather
  • Hazardous conditions
  • Standard safety equipment
  • In an open vehicle or equipment
  • Dangerous chemical substances
  • Extreme temperatures
  • Vibration
  • Outside, under cover
  • In an enclosed vehicle or equipment
  • Extremely bright or inadequate lighting

Physical proximity from others Help - Physical proximity from others

  • Somewhat close (e.g. share office)

Work environment

The work environment refers to the physical setting in which people work. The characteristics and conditions of the work environment are selected according to the likeliness that workers will be exposed to them at least once a week.

Physical proximity from others

Physical proximity from others refers to the physical distance between individuals in the workplace. The likeliness that the job requires to perform tasks while being physically close to other people is rated on a scale with 3 levels: "Somewhat close", "Close" and "Very close".

Related job titles

Here are some other related job titles that are found in the same occupational category (NOC 85102), and a list of similar occupations:

  • aquaculture support worker
  • clam digger
  • dulse gatherer
  • fish farm helper
  • fish tagger
  • fry marker
  • marine plant gatherer
  • oyster picker
  • sea farm attendant
  • seaweed gatherer
  • shellfish harvester

Similar occupations Help - Similar occupations

Similar occupations

This section lists other occupations that are part of the same broad occupational category as Aquaculture and marine harvest labourers in the National Occupational Classification (NOC). These occupations involve similar core qualifications but involve different responsibilities. To see more similar occupations, use the Job Transition Tool.

Sources Occupational and Skills Information System & National Occupational Classification

Labour Market Information Survey
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