Fish Hatchery Attendants specialize in Catfish and Tilapia Hatcheries

Department: Aquaculture / Hatchery Operations
Reports To:Fisheries ManagerÂ

Position Summary

Our farm is seeking a dedicated and detail-oriented Fish Hatchery Attendant to support its catfish (Clarias gariepinus) and tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) hatchery operations. The role involves assisting with spawning, hatching, fry management, feeding, water quality monitoring, and general hatchery maintenance to ensure healthy fingerling production.

Key Responsibilities

1. Spawning and Broodstock Management

• Assist in the selection and handling of broodstock for catfish and tilapia.
• Support hormone-induced breeding for catfish and natural/artificial spawning for tilapia.
• Handle fertilized eggs and record spawning outcomes.

2. Egg Incubation and Hatching

• Operate and monitor hapa, incubators, or McDonald jars depending on species.
• Maintain water quality and environmental conditions for successful hatching.
• Clean and disinfect hatching equipment regularly.

3. Fry and Fingerling Rearing

• Feed fry and fingerlings as per species-specific feeding schedules.
• Monitor fry behavior, growth, and mortality; sort and grade fingerlings accordingly.
• Remove mortalities and maintain biosecurity in rearing units.

4. Water Quality Monitoring

• Test water parameters (temperature, dissolved oxygen, ammonia, pH) daily.
• Adjust systems and alert supervisors if parameters are outside normal range.
• Maintain clean tanks, ponds, or raceways through regular cleaning and flushing.

5. Health Monitoring and Disease Control

• Observe and report abnormal fish behavior or appearance.
• Assist with treatment protocols, including salt dips or medication administration.
• Implement quarantine procedures as instructed.

6. Equipment and Facility Maintenance

• Clean and maintain hatchery tools, feeders, aeration systems, and tanks.
• Assist with setup and breakdown of hatchery equipment.
• Report equipment failures and participate in minor repairs.

7. Stocking and Transfer

• Count and prepare fry and fingerlings for transfer to nursery or grow-out ponds.
• Assist with packaging for transportation and sales.
• Support documentation of inventory movements.

8. Record Keeping and Reporting

• Maintain daily logs of spawning, feeding, mortality, water quality, and health.
• Submit reports to Hatchery Manager on schedule.
• Help maintain compliance with regulatory and quality standards.

9. Other Duties

• Participate in training or research activities.
• Carry out any other tasks related to hatchery operations as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• SSCE/OND in Fisheries, Agricultural Science, or related field.
• Minimum of 2-year experience in fish hatchery operations (catfish/tilapia preferred).
• Basic understanding of aquaculture biology and water quality management.
• Ability to handle live fish and maintain sanitary working conditions.
• Good communication and teamwork skills.

Working Conditions

• Must be comfortable working outdoors and in wet, humid environments.
• Flexibility to work weekends, holidays, or irregular hours during spawning season.
• Physically fit and capable of lifting up to 25kg.

Preferred Skills

• Experience in artificial spawning techniques (catfish).
• Familiarity with hapa net systems or tank-based rearing.
• Record-keeping and basic data entry skills.
• Certification in aquaculture, biosecurity, or fish health (an advantage).

Salary and Benefits

• Competitive salary based on experience.
• Free Housing and transportation allowanceÂ
• Access to staff training and career development programs.