85102

Aquaculture and marine harvest labourers

TEER 5 — Short work demonstration, no formal education

Express Entry skill level: No
Regulated in Québec: No
In demand in Manitoba: No

Classification

Natural resources & agriculture

8 › 85 › 851 › 8510

Definition

Aquaculture and marine harvest labourers include aquaculture support workers, marine plant gatherers, shellfish diggers and other labourers in aquaculture and fishing. Aquaculture support workers are employed by public or private fish hatcheries and commercial aquatic farms. Marine plant gatherers and mollusk harvesters may be self-employed.

Main duties

This group performs some or all of the following duties:
Assist aquaculture technicians in the operation of fish hatcheries or other aquatic farms
Feed aquaculture stocks, vaccinate stocks, perform culling and marking or banding techniques and report any observed irregularities in stocks
Operate, maintain and clean pumps, filters, tanks and other aquaculture equipment and clean and maintain aquaculture enclosures
Keep daily records of water flow and fish, shellfish and marine plant samples
Grade and weigh aquaculture stocks
Prepare aquaculture stocks for market
Rake seaweed, dulse or Irish moss from beach, rocks or shallow water and load into a cart, wagon or other receptacles
Spread gatherings to dry and remove foreign objects
Transport gatherings to processing plant
Dig clams from beds with spades, forks or other instruments, or collect other mollusks
Clean, sort and transport mollusks to market
May operate boats for aquaculture operations.

Example job titles

•aquaculture support worker
•clam digger
•dulse gatherer
•fish farm helper
•fish tagger
•fry marker
•marine plant gatherer
•oyster picker

Overview

Under the Canadian National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 system, NOC 85102 designates Aquaculture and marine harvest labourers. These individuals perform vital manual labor tasks associated with cultivating, harvesting, and processing fish, shellfish, and marine plants. Daily duties typically include feeding aquaculture stocks, cleaning and maintaining nets, pens, and other marine equipment, sorting and grading catches, and assisting in the operation of harvesting machinery or vessels. These roles are critical to the operational success of Canada's commercial aquaculture facilities and marine harvesting operations.

Since NOC 85102 is classified under TEER Category 5, candidates in this occupation are generally not eligible for Express Entry federal programs like the Federal Skilled Worker Program. However, there are alternative Canadian immigration pathways available. These include the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP), the Agri-Food Pilot, and specific streams under various Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) that target labor shortages in the agricultural and aquaculture sectors. Applicants must secure a valid job offer and meet the specific provincial or federal requirements, including language proficiency and education criteria.

Disclaimer: This information is provided for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For official up-to-date immigration programs and requirements, please consult Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) or a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC).

Educational overview summarizing this occupation. Always confirm against the official NOC profile and IRCC before relying on it.

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Occupation data: Statistics Canada / ESDC — National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021.