Fisheries and Aquaculture Technology

Completion Requirements

Grades for individual courses are awarded as described in the Grading Scale section of this Calendar. The program has minimum standards as follows:

• Registration in the second, third and fourth semester requires the satisfactory completion, with grades of “C-” or better, of all the courses in the previous semester. In the event that a student achieves less than “C-” in any FISH course, registration in any other FISH course may be denied or, at the discretion of the instructor, a satisfactory opportunity to improve the grade to “C-” may be made available, in order to allow the student to progress. Application of this clause is subject to review by program Chair and affected course instructors.
• Practicum courses (FISH 171, 172, 271, 272) will be automatically assigned an “F” if students miss more than one session at their field station, without prior notification to the station. An “F” in any of these courses will result in suspension from the program. Students must satisfactorily complete all courses in the program. Students may not graduate with more than two “D”s.
• Students who have more than two grades less than "C-" must withdraw from the program. They may reapply in the next year and make up the “D”s or “F”s to a “C-” grade or better.
• For more information regarding the above, students admitted to the program are advised to read the “Student Guide” issued in the first week of classes.

• General admission requirements apply.
• A minimum “C” grade in one of Precalculus 11, or Foundations of Mathematics 11, or equivalent.
• Life Sciences 11 with a minimum “C” grade, or equivalent.

Recommended for Admission

• Physics and other science courses are highly recommended.
• Additional English courses that lead to improved writing skills are invaluable.

Notes on Admission

• The program is limited to a maximum of 26 full-time students per year. Students wishing to take the program on a part-time basis, or wishing to attend single courses may contact the department to determine whether that is possible, although if space is limited, which is often the case, preference will be given to full-time students.
• Enrolment in this program is limited. Students who meet or exceed the minimum admission requirements may not necessarily be admitted to the program. Applicants are encouraged to apply early. Seats in the program are offered as follows: first qualifying applications are given first offers, until all seats are filled.
• Aboriginal students can apply for reserve seats by submitting the Access Initiative for Indigenous Students form.
• Students may take the program on a part-time basis, but admission to courses will be subject to prerequisites, where applicable, and space in the classroom after full-time students have been served.
• Applicants are strongly urged to talk to Fisheries and Aquaculture staff about the program and application procedures.
• Students will complete Occupational Level I First Aid, in accordance with WorkSafeBC requirements, and Transportation Endorsement courses during the first year of the program.

Careers in fisheries and aquaculture typically involve both outdoor work related to the rearing or assessment of aquatic stocks, and indoor activities related directly to field or support activities, including personnel and business management. Aquaculture is usually practiced in relatively remote areas.

It should be noted that the skills required for both the aquaculturist and the field fisheries technician broadly overlap, and that aquaculture plays an increasingly important role in wild stock management through the employment of hatcheries and fish stock enhancement. Students in this program are prepared for both career areas and after graduation frequently work in both.

Other placements include laboratory, sales, research and international opportunities. Many career opportunities are available to graduates willing to work in outdoor conditions, often in remote areas. Such work often includes field work with wild stocks including habitat assessment in both fresh and salt water, estimates of wild stock population, habitat restoration, research assistance, and monitoring of harvests.

Domestic (Canadian)