Standard: 1629100F

Occ. Code 1629100

FISH CULTURIST 1, GRADE 11	1629100
FISH CULTURIST 2, GRADE 13	1629200
FISH CULTURIST 3, GRADE 15	1629300
FISH CULTURIST 4, GRADE 17	1629400
FISH CULTURIST 5, GRADE 23	1629500
FISH CULTURIST 6, GRADE 25	1629600

New York State Department of Civil Service

Classification Standard

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF CLASS SERIES

Positions in this series are responsible for the rearing of a variety of fish species at hatcheries and for the stocking of these fish into the States public waters. Fish Culturists 1, 2, 3 and 4 are assigned to one of twelve fish hatcheries located throughout New York State or to the Rome Fish Disease Control Laboratory. Fish Culturists 5 and 6 are assigned to the central office and are responsible for administrative supervision of the Statewide hatchery system and a fish disease control laboratory. These positions are classified in the Department of Environmental Conservation and the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

FISH CULTURIST 1: full performance level; responsible for general fish culture and hatchery maintenance duties; may direct the work of seasonal employees and volunteers.

FISH CULTURIST 2: first supervisory level; supervises one or more positions of Fish Culturist 1 and seasonal and volunteer staff; may serve as the assistant manager at a medium sized hatchery.

FISH CULTURIST 3: serves as either manager of a medium hatchery or assistant manager at a large hatchery; oversees hatchery operations; supervises one or more positions of Fish Culturist 2.

FISH CULTURIST 4: serves as manager at a large hatchery; oversees hatchery operations; supervises one position of Fish Culturist 3.

FISH CULTURIST 5: one position class assigned to the central office; directly supervises managers and assistant managers at hatcheries and coordinates implementation of the agencys Statewide fish production and distribution plan.

FISH CULTURIST 6: one position class assigned to the central office; serves as section chief; plans and directs the hatchery program; responsible for all fish hatcheries and the Rome Fish Disease Control Laboratory.

ILLUSTRATIVE DUTIES

FISH CULTURIST 1

Under the general supervision of a Fish Culturist 2, performs routine fish culture and hatchery maintenance activities.

Maintains and cleans raceways and ponds.

· Removes fish wastes, foreign, and vegetative materials.

· Removes dead fish and records mortality rates.

· Estimates fish populations and redistributes fish among raceways or ponds.

· Builds and repairs protective netting or frames.

· Controls and adjusts rate of water flow.

· Tests water quality.

Feeds fish.

· Receives and unloads feed deliveries using fork lifts and skid steers.

· Calculates correct feed amounts using prescribed formulas.

· Mixes treatments into food, as needed, according to standard formulas.

· Hand-feeds young fish or loads and uses truck-mounted mechanical devices to deliver feed to mature fish.

Monitors fish health and provides treatments.

· Monitors physical appearance and behavior of fish.

· Tests and records water quality, dissolved oxygen levels, pH and other measures.

· Adjusts water sources, water temperatures, aeration, and adjusts or implements routine therapeutic treatments in accordance with established practices and formulas.

· Samples water and prepares and reviews slides for presence of disease.

· Sterilizes tools, holding units and fish transport trucks.

· Consults supervisors regarding unusual or non-routine circumstances affecting fish health and mortality.

Loads, delivers and stocks fish.

· Calculates load densities and loads fish by hand using nets or by use of mechanical fish pumps into individual fish holding tanks mounted on stocking trucks.

· Drives stocking trucks requiring CDL with air brakes endorsement.

· Monitors tank aerators and replaces aerators as necessary to ensure water quality en route to designated sites.

· Unloads fish from trucks at designated sites.

· Coordinates volunteers assisting in on-site stocking activities.

· As required for remote stocking, loads fish onto fixed wing aircraft and helicopters and drops or unloads fish into lakes.

· Drives fuel trucks to assist in the refueling of aircraft and helicopters.

Participates in egg harvesting, fertilization, and incubation.

· Sets nets in bodies of water to catch fish during fall spawning season or collects eggs two or three times per year in a spawn house or other hatchery facility.

· Anesthetizes fish as necessary.

· Returns unwanted fish to lakes and streams and divides fish by sex.

· Removes eggs and milt from fish and fertilizes eggs.

· Monitors egg mortality, removes dead eggs, and records data.

· In hatcheries with incubators, monitors and adjusts incubator equipment.

· Applies chemical treatments to preserve egg health.

Maintains and repairs physical plant and facility equipment.

· Conducts routine maintenance and basic repair of equipment.

· Performs semiskilled plumbing, carpentry, masonry, painting, and electrical repair and installation as necessary.

· Fabricates tools related to fish culture activities.

· Tests and operates generators, pumps, alarm systems, incubators, and other related mechanical and electrical equipment.

Conducts wastewater testing and wastewater plant maintenance.

· Performs tests of water quality of treated wastewater and sludge and records and maintains data.

· Performs tests for oxygen and nitrogen using gas saturometer.

· Removes sludge from wastewater holding ponds using vacuum devices and loads tanks on trucks.

· Drives tank trucks and spreads sludge for agricultural or other purposes as agreed to by landowners.

Performs grounds maintenance.

· Operates lawn mowers, brush hogs, weed trimmers, hand and power tools to cut, prune, maintain and remove grass, trees, tree branches, leaves and other vegetative growth.

· Removes snow from walks and roadways by plowing using a truck, tractor, snow removal equipment, or shovels as necessary.

· Cleans facilities including public areas.

Participates in public education efforts.

· Conducts scheduled tours of facility to school, outdoor sports, and community groups.

· Represents the agency at outdoor sports shows, the State Fair, and other events.

· Discusses fish stocking with media representatives at stocking sites.

Performs record-keeping and inventory activities.

· Enters data as required into various reports, logs or databases, including temperature readings, mortality rates of eggs and fish, chemical treatments, and other observations.

Participates in scientific studies.

· Records data and observations as required.

· Tags or marks fish for identification purposes.

FISH CULTURIST 2: performs all the tasks and activities of Fish Culturists 1 and, as first-line supervisor or as assistant manager at a medium facility, supervises Fish Culturists 1, seasonal employees and volunteers; schedules daily assignments for hatchery staff and ensures that assignments are completed according to hatchery standards; evaluates data and prepares reports; assists in the planning and implementation of the hatchery fish cultural program; coordinates a fish health management plan in conjunction with hatchery manager; plans and organizes inter-hatchery transfers and fish stockings; handles administrative tasks related to the purchasing of equipment and supplies and the oversight of equipment and grounds maintenance.

FISH CULTURIST 3: supervises lower-level Fish Culturists, seasonal employees and volunteers; serves as either assistant manager at a large hatchery or manager at a medium sized hatchery. Plans and supervises maintenance schedules for grounds, buildings, equipment and fish culture facilities; directs construction activities when necessary, performs administrative tasks including personnel and labor relations issues, employee recruitment, selection, and evaluation of employees; prepares purchase requisitions; evaluates data and prepares reports using valid scientific procedures. As manager, plans and directs the annual work program for the hatchery; plans and oversees implementation of the hatchery fish cultural program; coordinates fish health management plan; and compiles and prepares hatchery budget requests to support annual operating costs including equipment and temporary service needs.

FISH CULTURIST 4: supervises lower-level Fish Culturists; serves as manager at a large facility; plans and directs the annual work program for the hatchery; plans and supervises maintenance schedules for the facility and grounds; compiles and prepares hatchery budget requests; plans and schedules programs and costs for upcoming fiscal year; organizes and evaluates health and safety program; plans and oversees implementation of the hatchery fish cultural program; coordinates fish health management plan; handles administrative matters including the recruitment, selection and evaluation of employees; prepares statistical and narrative reports; and attends professional agency meetings.

FISH CULTURIST 5: coordinates the implementation of Statewide fish species culture programs to meet bureau objectives; works with program staff to determine fish production needs and to maximize the effective stocking and use of stocked fish; participates in the development of stocking schedules; coordinates wild fish egg takes and fish transfers; ensures compliance with Statewide fish disease control policy and ongoing assessment and resolution of production issues. Plans, reviews, and implements facility Rehabilitation & Improvement (R&I) construction projects through coordination with hatchery managers, engineers and the Fish Culturist 6; supervises hatchery managers; reviews time and activity records, completes employee evaluations, reviews purchases to comply with agency requirements and facility needs; identifies and implements training programs to promote staff development; ensures compliance with agency administrators in matters of health and safety policies and disciplinary actions or grievances, as warranted.

FISH CULTURIST 6: plans, directs and coordinates the Fish Culture Section for New York State and acts as advisor to Bureau Chief and other agency personnel on fish culture matters; assures facilities within the hatchery system are operated efficiently and in compliance with State and Federal regulations and that staff resources are used to achieve agency goals/objectives in a cost effective manner. Reviews and issues permits to private hatcheries and out-of-state hatcheries seeking to transport and sell protected fish in New York State; informs aquaculturists of the need for and implementation of fish disease control measures. Acts as the agencys liaison with private and non-DEC aquaculturists in New York State. Serves as agency representative in matters of local, Statewide, or national/international interest as directed by supervisory staff.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

FISH CULTURIST 1

Promotion: one year of permanent competitive service as a Fish Culturist Trainee 2.

FISH CULTURIST 2

Promotion: one year of permanent competitive service as a Fish Culturist 1.

FISH CULTURIST 3

Promotion: one year of permanent competitive service as a Fish Culturist 2.

FISH CULTURIST 4

Promotion: one year of permanent competitive service as a Fish Culturist 3 or two years of permanent competitive service as a Fish Culturist 2.

FISH CULTURIST 5

Promotion: one year of permanent competitive service as either A. Fish Culturist 3 or Fish Culturist 4 OR B. Biologist 1 (Aquatic) or Biologist 1 (Marine).

Open-Competitive: A Bachelors or higher-level degree including or supplemented by 30 semester credit hours in the biological sciences, which includes 12 semester credit hours in fisheries science, fish biology, aquatic ecology, fisheries techniques, aquaculture, fishery management, fishery statistics or biology of aquatic invertebrates AND three years of fish culture experience, including at least two years of experience as a hatchery manager or assistant hatchery manager, which must have included responsibility for preparing budgets, planning and directing hatchery operations, and supervising personnel;

an Associate's Degree in the biological sciences including or supplemented by 12 semester credit hours in fisheries science, fish biology, aquatic ecology, fisheries techniques, aquaculture, fishery management, fishery statistics, or biology of aquatic invertebrates AND five years of fish culture experience, including at least two years of experience as a hatchery manager or assistant hatchery manager, which must have included responsibility for preparing budgets, planning and directing hatchery operations, and supervising personnel.

FISH CULTURIST 6

Promotion: one year of permanent competitive service as a Fish Culturist 5, Biologist 2 (Aquatic) or Pathologist 2 (Aquatic).

Date: 4/06

NOTE: Classification Standards illustrate the nature, extent and scope of duties and responsibilities of the classes they describe. Standards cannot and do not include all of the work that might be appropriately performed by a class. The minimum qualifications above are those which were required for appointment at the time the Classification Standard was written. Please contact the Division of Staffing Services for current information on minimum qualification requirements for appointment or examination.