Fish Health Technician

Description

JOB DESCRIPTION

Summary/Objective

The Fish Health Technician will demonstrate a strong commitment to the principles of biosecurity, proactive fish health management, legal and judicious use of therapeutants, and standard diagnostic methods in the identification and resolution of environmental or infectious disease in trout and salmon. Responsibilities include monitoring on-farm conditions that may contribute to fish morbidity/mortality, co-ordination with Fish Pathologist for diagnosis of disease, collection of samples for diagnostic testing, per-form routine qualitative microbiological assays to identify viral, bacterial and parasitic pathogens and coop-erating with farm staff regarding implementation of biosecurity and fish health improvement plans.

Essential Functions

Responsibilities include:

• Diagnosis of infectious disease or other factors contributing to morbidity/mortality in trout and salmon diagnosis of infectious disease or other factors contributing to morbidity/mortality in trout and salmon
• Conducting necropsies on fish, collecting and testing tissue samples for pathogen detections
• Participation in annual fish health management planning activities, executing tasks related to objectives for improved fish performance and health outcomes
• Monitoring farm performance data (e.g., survival rates) to identify emerging fish health threats and opportunities for improvement
• Applying therapeutic treatments in a manner consistent with legal and judicious use of aquaculture drugs
• Records-keeping related to on-farm use of aquaculture drugs.
• Always working to produce products people can trust by recognizing poor quality and communicating with management.
• Providing prompt, friendly and courteous service to internal and external customers.
• Continually pursuing sustainability of our natural resources with every decision, decreasing waste and being conscious of individual choices
• Advocating positive change within our team, empowering one another
• Completing other duties as required

Requirements

Competencies

Familiarity with aquaculture farm operations

Familiarity with common fish diseases, necropsy procedures, aseptic collection of tissue samples

Familiarity with standard operating procedures for the detection and identification of finfish pathogens in-cluding viruses, bacteria and parasites

Competency with Microsoft Office program suite, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint

Attention to detail, critical thinking, safety, and continual improvement

Supervisory Responsibility

None

Work Environment

This job occasionally involves work in an outdoor environment and may involve exposure to inclement weather conditions

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

• This job is occasionally physically demanding and requires the ability to lift 50 pounds.  
• Alternately walking and sitting for long periods of time is required. 
• The ability to bend, squat, kneel, step, reach, lift, push, pull, see, hear and talk are required.  
• Fine motor skills associated with laboratory work (e.g., necropsy procedures, chemical handling, operation of analytical equipment) are required.  

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

This is a full-time position, which could include occasional work on Saturdays or Sundays

Travel

Local travel is required

Required Education and Experience

• The ability to speak, read, understand and follow directions with or without reasonable accommodations
• Knowledge of fish husbandry and aquaculture practices
• Knowledge of fish diseases and necropsy procedures
• Knowledge of standard microbiology assays for the detection of finfish pathogens 
• Valid driver’s license and good driving record

Preferred Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in microbiology, fisheries, aquaculture, or a related field or comparable training in veterinary medicine, medical technology or microbiology

Additional Eligibility Qualifications

None

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.