How to become a labourer in fish and seafood processing
Official title: Labourers in fish and seafood processing
Also called: Fish culler, Fish sorter, Fish weigher, Cannery labourer, Fish curing worker, Shellfish labourer, Fish plant labourer, Fish processing labourer, Fish hopper filling worker, Fish icer - fish processing, Fish briner - fish processing, Fish dipper - fish processing
Labourers in fish and seafood processing perform clean-up, packaging, material handling and other elemental activities related to fish and seafood processing. They are employed in fish and seafood processing and packaging plants.
Main tasks
- Unload fish and shellfish from fishing vessels and transport them by hand or forklift truck to work area in fish processing plant
- Immerse fresh fish fillets in brine solution to condition them for wrapping or freezing
- Weigh fish or shellfish, record weight and pack fish in ice
- Sort fish according to species, weight and destination
- Clean work areas and equipment
- Transport supplies and packaging materials throughout plant and storage area manually or with powered equipment
- Measure and dump ingredients into hoppers of mixing and grinding machines
How to become one
Some secondary school education may be required.
Pay · Outlook
- Median pay: $35,100 a year The middle half earn $32,663 to $38,532.
- About 3,400 people worked in this job in 2023, and about 3,300 are projected by 2033. (-2.9%)
- Projected labour market to 2033: strong risk of shortage.
Related jobs
- Labourers in mineral and metal processing
- Labourers in metal fabrication
- Labourers in chemical products processing and utilities
- Labourers in wood, pulp and paper processing
- Labourers in rubber and plastic products manufacturing
- Labourers in textile processing and cutting
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Questions people ask
How do I become a labourer in fish and seafood processing?
Some secondary school education may be required.
How much does a labourer in fish and seafood processing earn in Canada?
Median full-time pay is $35,100 a year (Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank)). The middle half earn $32,663 to $38,532.
Is a labourer in fish and seafood processing a growing career in Canada?
Employment is projected to fall 3% by 2033, from about 3,400 to about 3,300 people (Employment and Social Development Canada).
Do you need a degree to become a labourer in fish and seafood processing?
Usually not. Only 3% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Sources
- Statistics Canada: Census 2021: employment by occupation, gender and education (98-10-0449) (2021 Census), Statistics Canada Open Licence, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Statistics Canada: National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 (Version 1.0), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Employment and Social Development Canada: Canadian Occupational Projection System (COPS) (2024 to 2033), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank): Wages by occupation (2025 (revised 2025-11-19)), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03