Working and Careers in Water and Aquatic Science

A fish hatchery biologist and technician raise fish to be stocked into Texas’ lakes, rivers, bays, and estuaries.

Photo credit: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

Fish raised by the fish hatchery biologist and technician may be used to bring back a species of fish that has disappeared from a lake or to provide more fish for people to catch in a lake, stream, or bay. There are many kinds of jobs to do at a fish hatchery. A fish hatchery biologist works for state and federal fisheries agencies, and private aquaculture farms. Workers who feed fish, maintain hatchery facilities, and do much of the field work are often called a fish hatchery technician. Technicians have at least a high school degree. Many have a bachelor’s degree. The fish hatchery biologist oversees the health and nutrition of fish, as well as ensures safe transport of fish to the places where the fish are stocked. Biologists usually have a master’s degree in fishery biology or a related field.

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Texas Aquatic Science is a cooperative education project sponsored by Texas Parks and Wildlife, The Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, and The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment at Texas State University. Additional project support came from the Ewing Halsell Foundation and the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Sport Fish Restoration Program. Rudolph Rosen, Ph.D. wrote and edited the Texas Aquatic Science textbook. Videos were produced by Randall Maxwell. Sandra Johnson, Ph.D. served as educational consultant and authored the accompanying Teacher’s Guide.