National Occupational Classification, TEER 5
NOC 85102: Aquaculture and marine harvest labourers
Aquaculture and marine harvest labourers include aquaculture support workers, marine plant gatherers, shellfish diggers and other labourers in aquaculture and fishing. Below are the main duties, all 30 job titles it covers, what it means for Express Entry and what it pays in each province.
Updated
- Official NOC 2021 data
- Job Bank wages
What is NOC 85102?
NOC 85102 is the code for aquaculture and marine harvest labourers in the National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021. Job titles in this group include aquaculture support worker, clam digger, dulse gatherer and fish farm helper. It is a TEER 5 occupation (usually a short work demonstration and no formal education), so it does not count as skilled work for Express Entry. The Job Bank median wage across Canada is $22.00 an hour.
- NOC code
- 85102
- TEER
- 5: Short work demonstration, no formal education
- Broad category
- Natural resources, agriculture and related production occupations
- Express Entry
- Not skilled
- Category draws
- None
- Median wage
- $22.00 an hour
Job titles under NOC 85102
Aquaculture and marine harvest labourers include aquaculture support workers, marine plant gatherers, shellfish diggers and other labourers in aquaculture and fishing. Aquaculture support workers are employed by public or private fish hatcheries and commercial aquatic farms. Marine plant gatherers and mollusk harvesters may be self-employed.
Main job titles
- aquaculture support worker
- clam digger
- dulse gatherer
- fish farm helper
- fish tagger
- fry marker
- marine plant gatherer
- oyster picker
- sea farm attendant
- seaweed gatherer
- shellfish harvester
All 30 job titles in the NOC index
aquaculture support worker, aquaculture worker, clam digger, dulse gatherer, fish farm helper, fish farm worker, fish hatchery attendant, fish hatchery tagger, fish hatchery worker, fish hatchery worker - aquaculture, fish tagger, fry marker, fry marker - fishing, fry tagger, hatchery helper, hatchery worker - aquaculture, Irish moss gatherer, lobster pound attendant, marine plant gatherer, mussel farm labourer, mussel harvester, oyster harvester, oyster picker, oyster picker-shucker, quahog digger, sea farm attendant, sea farm worker, seaweed gatherer, shellfish bed attendant, shellfish harvester.
Main duties of NOC 85102
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
- Assist aquaculture technicians in the operation of fish hatcheries or other aquatic farms
- Feed aquaculture stocks, vaccinate stocks, perform culling and marking or banding techniques and report any observed irregularities in stocks
- Operate, maintain and clean pumps, filters, tanks and other aquaculture equipment and clean and maintain aquaculture enclosures
- Keep daily records of water flow and fish, shellfish and marine plant samples
- Grade and weigh aquaculture stocks
- Prepare aquaculture stocks for market
- Rake seaweed, dulse or Irish moss from beach, rocks or shallow water and load into a cart, wagon or other receptacles
- Spread gatherings to dry and remove foreign objects
- Transport gatherings to processing plant
- Dig clams from beds with spades, forks or other instruments, or collect other mollusks
- Clean, sort and transport mollusks to market
- May operate boats for aquaculture operations.
Employment requirements
- Some secondary school education is usually required.
- Shellfish harvesters require commercial fishing licences.
- Marine Emergency Duties certificate may be required for some occupations in this unit group.
Is NOC 85102 eligible for Express Entry?
Not for the main Express Entry programs, which need TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 work. TEER 5 jobs can still lead to permanent residence through some provincial and other programs, so check each program's own list.
| Program or draw | NOC 85102 |
|---|---|
| Federal Skilled Worker Program | Does not count (TEER 5) |
| Canadian Experience Class | Does not count (TEER 5) |
| Federal Skilled Trades Program | Not a listed trade |
| Occupation category draws (2026) | Not on any occupation list |
| French-language proficiency (category draw) | Open to any occupation with NCLC 7 in French |
Read how TEER categories work and the full list of NOC codes in each 2026 category draw. Category draws also need at least 12 months of full-time work (or the same amount part-time) in one listed occupation within the past 3 years.
How much does NOC 85102 pay?
Job Bank wages for this occupation, per hour. Low and high are, in most cases, the 10th and 90th percentiles, so 8 in 10 workers earn somewhere between them.
| Area | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | $17.00 | $22.00 | $36.06 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $17.00 | $25.35 | $36.06 |
| Prince Edward Island | $16.50 | $20.00 | $30.00 |
| Nova Scotia | $16.50 | $21.15 | $35.00 |
| New Brunswick | $17.00 | $20.00 | $35.00 |
| Quebec | $19.77 | $23.32 | $32.62 |
| British Columbia | $20.00 | $30.00 | $39.56 |
Source: Job Bank, Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank 2025 wages, revised November 19, 2025), data from 2023-2024 (Labour Force Survey). Wages for job offers in LMIA and provincial programs are compared with these figures, so check the current numbers on Job Bank before you rely on them.
Using NOC 85102 duties on your resume
Canadian resumes do not list NOC codes. Employers read your job titles, what you did and what came of it. The NOC duties are still a useful checklist: if you did these tasks, say so in your own words and add the numbers that prove it.
For Express Entry, the reference letter from your employer should describe the duties you really performed, in line with this lead statement and most of the main duties, without copying the NOC text word for word. The free reference letter generator checks your duties against NOC 85102 as you write.
- Start each bullet with a strong verb and end it with a result: how many, how often, how fast.
- Use the job title your employer used, even if the NOC title is different.
- Keep immigration details such as your NOC code and permit type off the resume.
Turn my duties into a resume Free to start, no card.
Where this information comes from
Occupation codes, titles and descriptions are adapted from Statistics Canada, National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 Version 1.0. This does not constitute an endorsement by Statistics Canada of this product.
Wages come from Job Bank, Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank 2025 wages, revised November 19, 2025). Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada.
Express Entry rules come from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC): the program pages for the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Canadian Experience Class and the Federal Skilled Trades Program, and the category-based selection page as modified on June 22, 2026.
Frequently asked questions
What is the NOC code for a aquaculture support worker?
NOC 85102, Aquaculture and marine harvest labourers, a TEER 5 occupation in NOC 2021.
What TEER is NOC 85102?
TEER 5. Usually a short work demonstration and no formal education. The TEER is the second digit of the code. See all TEER categories.
Is NOC 85102 eligible for Express Entry?
Not for the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Canadian Experience Class or the Federal Skilled Trades Program, which need TEER 0 to 3 work. Some provincial nominee programs and other pathways accept TEER 5 jobs.
Is NOC 85102 in an Express Entry category-based draw?
No. It is not on any 2026 occupation list. The French-language proficiency category is open to any occupation if you reach NCLC 7 in French. See every category.
How much does NOC 85102 pay in Canada?
The Job Bank median across Canada is $22.00 an hour, with most wages between $17.00 and $36.06. Pay varies by province: see the table above.
Where is the official description?
On the Statistics Canada and ESDC NOC site: search 85102 in NOC 2021 Version 1.0. This page shows the same text, from the open data Statistics Canada publishes.
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More on NOC codes and Canadian resumes
- NOC Code Finder: Describe your duties and get your NOC 2021 code, TEER and Express Entry eligibility. Free.
- NOC Codes Canada: Full List: All 516 NOC 2021 codes with their TEER, duties and wages.
- TEER Categories Explained: What TEER 0 to 5 means, which count for Express Entry, and every job in each one.
- Express Entry Category Draws: NOC Codes: Every NOC code on the 2026 healthcare, STEM, trades, education and other lists.
- Canadian Resume Examples by Job: Real examples for cashiers, caregivers, trades, tech, students and more.
- Newcomer Resume Guide: Turn international experience into a resume Canadian employers understand.