How to become an Aquaculture Farmer

Also called: Aquaculture Farm Manager

Plans, organises, controls, coordinates and performs farming operations to breed and raise fish and other aquatic stock.

Main tasks

• Plans and coordinates the operations of hatcheries and grow-out operations to breed and produce aquatic stock such as fish, oysters, crayfish, marron or prawns
• Plans and coordinates the cultivation and production of seaweed for food, animal feed, biofuels and fertilisers
• Coordinates and oversees strategies to monitor the environment and maintain optimal growing conditions for aquatic stock and seaweed, minimise the impact of operations on the environment, and manage biosecurity and other risks
• Directs and oversees general aquaculture farming activities, including the provision and maintenance of farming infrastructure and equipment
• Directs and oversees the transportation of aquatic stock to new tanks, ponds, cages and floating net pens
• Coordinates and oversees harvesting, grading, processing and packaging operations for aquatic stock and seaweed
• Organises the sale, purchase and transportation of aquatic stock and seaweed
• Maintains and evaluates records of aquaculture farming activities, monitors market activity, and plans production accordingly
• Manages aquaculture farm business capital including budgeting, taxation, debt and loan management
• May select, train and supervise aquaculture farm staff and contractors

Ways in

• University: Agriculture & Environment degrees, Offered by 27 universities in Australia
• TAFE and VET: Certificate IV in Aquaculture (SFI40119); Certificate IV in Seafood Post Harvest Operations (SFI40219); Diploma of Aquaculture (SFI50119)

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

• About 1,900 people work in this job group now, and about 2,200 are projected by 2035. (+17.6%)
• AI is likely to change parts of this job. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as medium.

Related jobs

• Broadacre Crop and Livestock Farmer
• Cotton Grower
• Grain, Oilseed, Pulse or Pasture Grower
• Sugar Cane Grower
• Flower Grower
• Fruit Grower

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Questions people ask

How do I become an Aquaculture Farmer?

Ways in include: Agriculture & Environment degrees; Certificate IV in Aquaculture; Certificate IV in Seafood Post Harvest Operations.

Is an Aquaculture Farmer a growing career in Australia?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 18% by 2035, from about 1,900 to about 2,200 people (Jobs and Skills Australia).

Do you need a degree to become an Aquaculture Farmer?

Usually not. Only 21% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Agriculture & Environment degrees; Certificate IV in Aquaculture; Certificate IV in Seafood Post Harvest Operations.

Will AI change the work of an Aquaculture Farmer?

AI is likely to change parts of this job. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as medium.

Sources

• Jobs and Skills Australia: Occupation data (ANZSCO), from ABS Labour Force and Census (February 2026), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Jobs and Skills Australia: Generative AI Capacity Study, interactive table data (September 2025), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Jobs and Skills Australia: Employment Projections (Victoria University) (May 2025 to May 2035), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Australian Taxation Office: Taxation Statistics, Individuals Table 15A (2023-24), CC BY 2.5 AU, retrieved 2026-10-04

Updated 2026-10-04