Also called: Shellfish Grower, Oyster Grower, Clam Farmer
Grows oysters, clams, and mussels in bays and estuaries, which also helps clean the water.
You time your work with the tides, wading out at low tide to flip mesh bags of oysters or hauling cages onto a small skiff. You sort oysters by size, pack them on ice, and deliver to restaurants. Each oyster filters about 50 gallons of water a day.
Small farms take years to become profitable; established farms can do well.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
High school diploma, about 0 years after high school. Learned on the job; university extension programs and state leases are the way in.
Ways in: On-the-job training, Self-taught, Certification. Training cost: Under $15k.
Majors to look at: Aquaculture, Marine Biology.
Growing faster than average. Shellfish aquaculture has been expanding along US coasts.
Low risk for 10 years. Little to automate on tidal leases; hand work and selling to restaurants stay human, and demand is growing.
Classes: Biology, Business.
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