Job Details

Catfish Pond Worker

This job involves various tasks relating to the production of catfish including but not limited to: seining, equipment maintenance, grading levees, cutting grass, buoy maintenance, paddle wheel maintenance, feeding, weed-eating, etc. Prepare ponds for fingerlings by draining ponds to allow them to dry out by exposure to air. Remove aquatic weeds and level the bottom to facilitate seining. Fill the ponds with water. Unload fingerlings and place them in ponds. Monitor and correct oxygen levels in pond water, observe fish behavior and physical condition. Monitor water temperature, quality, and oxygen levels in all ponds especially at night. Maintain pond areas by removing weeds, grass, etc. Monitor ponds for disease and predatory birds. Harvest food fish from ponds and load fish onto trucks for transport. Wades in the pond to position net using a foot to keep the mud line of the net on the bottom. Feed fish [hand or mechanical feeder]. Performs typical farm and pond maintenance levee repair and maintenance, control predators, pull weeds, mow grass, clean and store equipment, etc. Uses seines, dip nets, waders, gloves, oxygen meter and/or chemical test kit. Able to swim and check screens on pumps for holes underwater. Work outside in heat and cold, work in 4'-6 1/2' water in catfish pond. Handle live fish, some heavy lifting (50 pounds). Will be required to work on repairing equipment including but not limited to electric paddle wheels, PTO driven paddle wheels, tractors, trucks, ATVs, and oxygen monitoring systems. Will be required to monitor oxygen levels during nighttime hours, to drive tractors, trucks, forklift equipment, and ATVs, to remove dead fish from ponds and bury, to fill tractors up with diesel fuel and check oil daily. Use arms and legs and move whole body walking in water, lifting, balancing, and stooping.