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Aquaculture workers

How to become an Aquaculture Worker

Also called: Fish farmer, Shellfish farmer, Oyster farmer, Scallop farmer, Eel farmer, Yellowtail farmer, Seaweed farmer, Nori farmer

Raises fish, shellfish, seaweed and other seafood, mainly for food, under controlled conditions and sends it to market.

How to become one

No particular qualification or education is required to start. You can learn basic knowledge and skills at a fisheries upper secondary school or university, but specialist skills and instinct have to be gained through experience on the job. People usually join a company that runs an aquaculture business and learn the knowledge and skills needed. A lack of successors is a problem across Japan, and in some areas fisheries cooperatives are looking for successors. After joining, most people work under the guidance of experienced staff without special training, and as they gain experience and practice they become able to work on their own judgement. There is a lot to learn, such as daily observation and how to prepare for unexpected problems. You are also expected to learn things like biology on your own. If you join a fisheries cooperative and gain demarcated fishery rights, you can set up on your own. If you go independent you will own a small boat and work alone, so you need a licence such as a small boat operator licence. You need an interest in living things, enough fitness to work in harsh conditions such as bad weather, and the ability to manage water quality and temperature properly.

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Questions people ask

How do I become an Aquaculture Worker?

No particular qualification or education is required to start. You can learn basic knowledge and skills at a fisheries upper secondary school or university, but specialist skills and instinct have to be gained through experience on the job. People usually join a company that runs an aquaculture business and learn the knowledge and skills needed. A lack of successors is a problem across Japan, and in some areas fisheries cooperatives are looking for successors. After joining, most people work under the guidance of experienced staff without special training, and as they gain experience and practice they become able to work on their own judgement. There is a lot to learn, such as daily observation and how to prepare for unexpected problems. You are also expected to learn things like biology on your own. If you join a fisheries cooperative and gain demarcated fishery rights, you can set up on your own. If you go independent you will own a small boat and work alone, so you need a licence such as a small boat operator licence. You need an interest in living things, enough fitness to work in harsh conditions such as bad weather, and the ability to manage water quality and temperature properly.

How much does an Aquaculture Worker earn in Japan?

Average annual income in the private sector, bonus included, is ¥3,607,500 (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare). The figure is for the wage survey group Agriculture, forestry and fishery workers, which covers several jobs.

Do you need a degree to become an Aquaculture Worker?

Usually not. In this job's census occupation group, only 8% of workers are university graduates.

Will AI change the work of an Aquaculture Worker?

Generative AI can do relatively little of this work, by the ILO's global estimate.

Sources

独立行政法人労働政策研究・研修機構（JILPT）作成 職業情報データベース 解説系ダウンロードデータ（IPD_DL_description_7_01.xlsx）ver.7.01 職業情報提供サイト（job tag）より2026年10月4日にダウンロード（https://shigoto.mhlw.go.jp/User/download）を加工して作成

独立行政法人労働政策研究・研修機構（JILPT）作成 職業情報データベース 簡易版数値系ダウンロードデータ（IPD_DL_numeric_7_00.xlsx）ver.7.00 職業情報提供サイト（job tag）より2026年10月4日にダウンロード（https://shigoto.mhlw.go.jp/User/download）を加工して作成

Sources: JILPT Occupational Information Database download data via job tag (解説系 ver.7.01 and 簡易版数値系 ver.7.00, downloaded 4 October 2026), processed by Peernovo; MHLW, Basic Survey on Wage Structure 2025; Statistics Bureau of Japan, 2020 Population Census; MEXT, School Basic Survey 2025; MHLW, Employment Referrals for General Workers (Hello Work statistics). Figures processed by Peernovo. English job names, translations and the matching of jobs to statistical groups, schools and degree fields by Peernovo.

Updated 4 October 2026