Job Description

Position Title: Assistant Broodstock & Incubation Manager (Sablefish)

Location: Golden Eagle Sablefish Hatchery, Salt spring Island

Employment Type: Full-time, Permanent

The Assistant Broodstock & Incubation Manager supports the daily operation of marine fish broodstock and egg incubation systems. Working closely with the Broodstock Manager, this role assists with broodstock conditioning, spawning activities, egg handling, and incubation to ensure consistent production of high-quality eggs and larvae while maintaining high standards of fish welfare, biosecurity, and data integrity.

Key Responsibilities

• Assist with daily care and husbandry of marine fish broodstock.
• Support broodstock conditioning programs, including feeding, photoperiod, and temperature manipulation
• Participate in spawning activities, including natural spawning, strip spawning, and gamete handling (where applicable).

• Manage egg collection, disinfection, counting, and grading
• Operate and maintain egg incubation systems, ensuring optimal water quality and environmental conditions.
• Monitor fertilization rates, egg viability, hatch success, and early larval performance

• Support fish health monitoring and report abnormalities promptly.
• Assist with routine health sampling and liaise with senior staff during health events.
• Ensure handling practices align with animal welfare standards and regulations

• Maintain accurate records of broodstock performance, spawning events, and incubation outcomes.
• Assist with data entry, basic analysis, and reporting.
• Contribute to continuous improvement by flagging trends, anomalies, or recurring issues.

• Monitor and adjust water quality parameters (temperature, oxygen, salinity, pH, nitrogenous wastes).
• Support routine maintenance, cleaning, and system troubleshooting.
• Participate in on-call or weekend rotas as required during spawning periods.

• Assist in training junior technicians and students.

Required Qualifications & Experience

• Diploma or Bachelor’s degree in Aquaculture, Marine Biology, Fisheries Science, or a related field.

• 2–4 years’ experience in a marine hatchery, broodstock, incubation, or larval rearing environment.
• Practical experience handling fish, eggs, and incubation systems.
• Familiarity with marine water quality monitoring and hatchery equipment.

• Strong observational skills and attention to detail.
• Practical, hands-on approach to problem solving.
• Good understanding of fish reproduction basics and early life stages
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Comfortable working flexible hours around spawning schedules.
• Competent record-keeping and basic computer skills.

Desirable Skills

• Experience with marine broodstock or egg incubation
• Familiarity with RAS systems
• Experience with egg disinfection, grading, or automated counting systems.
• Interest in fish reproduction, selective breeding, or applied research.

Physical & Work Requirements

• Ability to work in wet, marine environments.
• Comfortable lifting moderate weights and handling live fish.

What We Offer

• Opportunity to work in a unique broodstock and hatchery environment
• Hands-on involvement in marine fish reproduction and incubation.
• Training and professional development opportunities.
• Collaborative and science-driven workplace.

To apply, please submit your resume or email Samuel Pountney at samuel.pountney@goldeneaglesablefish.com