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Aquaculture harvesting worker

Also called harvesting worker, fish farming harvesting worker, aquatic animals harvesting worker

Aquaculture harvesting workers work in the harvesting of those aquatic organisms cultured in land-based on-growing processes.

Will there be jobs?Limited prospects3 jobs to fill by 2035 for every 100 people doing this work today.Agricultural, forestry and fishery labourersWhat does it pay?Below averageFrom about €700 (Bulgaria) to €3,800 (Denmark) a month, depending on the country.Estimate · Agricultural, forestry and fishery labourersWhat do I need to study?Basic schooling6 in 10 have basic schooling only. 4 in 10 train through vocational routes.Agricultural, forestry and fishery labourersWill AI change it?Very littleLevel 1 of 6. AI could help with only small parts of the tasks.Fishery and aquaculture labourers · ILO

What you'd do

Fishery and aquaculture labourers · ILO
  • Cleaning the sea-bed and feeding fish and molluscs that are being cultivated
  • Gathering seaweed, sea mosses, clams and other molluscs
  • Preparing nets, lines and other fishing tackle and other deck equipment
  • Operating fishing gear to catch fish and other marine life
  • Cleaning, sorting and packing fish and seafood in ice and salt, and stowing catch in hold
  • Cleaning deck surfaces and fish hold
  • Handling mooring lines during docking
Apply fish harvest methodsHarvest aquatic resourcesSet up fish harvesting equipmentCollect dead fishPerform fish grading operations+ 14 more essential skills

Will there be jobs?

Limited prospects

Fewer jobs than in most work will need filling by 2035.

People working as agricultural, forestry and fishery labourers in the EU
1.81m1.92m1.45m 201520232035

Solid: measured. Dashed: forecast.

Jobs to fill, 2026–2035
455,000 replacing leavers 405,000 jobs disappear
Jobs to fill per 100 people working now
Agricultural, forestry and fishery labourers3
All jobs29
Right now
4 of 27 countries report a shortage of fishery and aquaculture labourers, 2 a surplus.
Fishery and aquaculture labourers · EURES

What does it pay?

Below average

Pay depends a lot on the country: from about €700 a month (Bulgaria) to €3,800 (Denmark), before tax.

Pick a country at the top of the page to see typical pay there, for people under 30, and compared with all jobs.

Among elementary occupations in the EU, women earn 9% less per hour than men. Elementary occupations · Eurostat

What do I need to study?

Basic schooling

Most people start with basic schooling and learn on the job.

Highest qualification of agricultural, forestry and fishery labourers (EU, 2025)
Degree 5%Vocational 25%General secondary 8%Basic schooling 61%
Fields that teach it
Fisheries · Building and civil engineering
Vocational route, EU
4 in 10 trainees in this field

Pick a country at the top of the page to see where to study and the official course finders.

Will AI change it?

Very little

AI could help with only small parts of the tasks.

How exposed is this job? ILO scale
Very low
Low
Some tasks
Moderate
Significant
High

Average task score 0.11 on a scale from 0 (AI can't do it) to 1 (AI could do it fully).

See the score for each of the 7 tasks
Handling mooring lines during docking0.15
Cleaning the sea-bed and feeding fish and molluscs that are being cultivated0.13
Operating fishing gear to catch fish and other marine life0.12
Preparing nets, lines and other fishing tackle and other deck equipment0.12
Cleaning, sorting and packing fish and seafood in ice and salt, and stowing catch in hold0.12
Cleaning deck surfaces and fish hold0.08
Gathering seaweed, sea mosses, clams and other molluscs0.06

Based on what AI could technically do when assessed in 2025. It is not a forecast for a future year, and not a forecast of job losses. Scores for fishery and aquaculture labourers. Source: ILO (2025), adapted (credits).