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Fish Hatchery Supervisor Jobs

There is a slight difference between positions like a fish farm manager and a fish hatchery supervisor.

Whereas the fish farm manager is ultimately responsible to produce mature adult fish usually for human consumption, the hatchery supervisor is responsible to raise fingerlings for native species restoration, sport fish fisheries and fish farms supply.

Many hatcheries in the United States are federal or state operations. The hatchery supervisor must be capable of both collecting fish eggs from the field or ordering any required quantities from private suppliers. A hatchery supervisor must be able to utilize scientific skills to monitor the fish growth and overall health to meet production goals set by government and private entities.

Once the fish stock has met the desired growth and numbers required, the hatchery supervisor is also responsible for delivering or stocking the fish into their natural environment in a safe and healthy manner.

Fish hatchery supervisors generally require a bachelor's degree from an accredited university in fisheries, biology or other scientific fields. Some positions however only require a two-year degree as long as the applicant has a significant amount of experience in related activities. In addition, most hatcheries look for an applicant who has at least five years experience in fish husbandry or general aquaculture areas. Experience in both warm and coldwater species is generally preferred.

A working knowledge of the symptoms of fish diseases, along with the appropriate measures to treat or eliminate those conditions, is preferred as well. Based on the location and the size of the hatchery operation, a supervisor may need competent mechanical skills with a working knowledge of pumps and plumbing.

The median salary for a fish hatchery supervisor is generally about US$50,000, with specific salaries falling on either side based on experience, location and amount of responsibility.

The fish hatchery supervisor must be able to work in a wide range of conditions with little to no direct supervision. Some tasks can be physically demanding, set in local streams and lakes or inside commercial tanks and raceways, while others involve a significant amount of time performing indoor tasks or administrative work. The supervisor must be competent in laboratory procedures and be able to work well with people, either in leading a team of individuals at the hatchery or dealing with customers. In addition, the fish hatchery supervisor must be able to correspond with his/her upper management personnel to determine production goals and deal with any issues. A fish hatchery supervisor must also be able to communicate effectively with fisheries experts in biology and other aquaculture disciplines on topics relating to the entire aspects of fish husbandry.