Apprenticeship as Fish Farmer: Specialization Aquaculture 100% (not EFZ)

Apprenticeship as Fish Farmer: Specialization Aquaculture 100% (not EFZ)

Are fish your passion and do you want to make it your profession? With us, you have the opportunity to complete the training to become a certified fish farmer in the most modern recirculation systems.

Department: Life Sciences and Facility Management

Start of work: September 2026

Aquaculture in recirculation systems offers a sustainable and resource-saving way to produce fish. In Switzerland, this form of production is growing and well-trained specialists are in high demand.

The training place for this 3-year apprenticeship as a fish farmer is at ZHAW Wädenswil with the Aquaculture Systems research group. As a young and motivated team, we are at the forefront of aquaculture research and closely networked with the industry. You will complete the practical training in the modern recirculation and aquaponic systems of the university of applied sciences. In the 2nd and 3rd year of apprenticeship, you will each undertake a several-month internship in a commercial Swiss fish farm, focusing on the processing and breeding of fish (perch-like and salmonids). Throughout the entire training period, you will expand and deepen your knowledge with regular block courses at the Institute of Fisheries (IFI) in Starnberg (D).

Your tasks during your training include:

• Fish keeping and rearing (catching, sorting, transporting, feeding)
• Breeding and hatching of fish
• Fish processing and marketing (slaughtering, processing, sales)
• Operation of recirculation systems (starting up, operating and shutting down the system)
• Fish stocking and production planning
• Research (sensors, data, measurements)
• Laboratory work (measuring water quality, analyzing and assessing measurement values)
• Planning and construction of research facilities
• Maintenance (repairs and upkeep of technical equipment)

The training leads to the title "certified fish farmer". In Switzerland, there is no training for fish farmers with a Federal VET Diploma. This takes place at the Institute of Fisheries (IFI) in Starnberg (D), with ZHAW Wädenswil as the training company.

The costs for the stay in Starnberg (travel, accommodation, breakfast and lunch) are covered by the training company.

• Completed secondary school (A or B)
• Enthusiasm for fish and technology
• Interest in biology, chemistry and data
• Manual skills
• Good observation skills
• Clean and precise work
• High reliability and conscientious working style
• Good team and communication skills
• Physical suitability / resilience
• Willingness to work in other companies within Switzerland (2nd/3rd year) and to participate in multi-week training blocks in Germany (Starnberg).

The ZHAW Zurich University of Applied Sciences, with over 14,000 students and over 11,000 continuing education participants as well as around 3,700 employees, is one of the largest multi-disciplinary universities of applied sciences in Switzerland.

ZHAW is committed to mixed-gender and diverse teams to promote equality, diversity and innovation.

The Department of Life Sciences and Facility Management is located in Wädenswil on the left shore of Lake Zurich. Here, the Institute for Environment and Natural Resources (IUNR) is committed to the sustainable use of natural resources.

At the Grüental campus in Wädenswil, the Aquaculture Systems research group has its research facilities. It deals with the sustainable use of resources (energy, water, feed, nutrients) in recirculating aquaculture.

We offer university-appropriate working and employment conditions and actively promote the personnel development of our employees and managers. A detailed description of the benefits can be found on the "Working at ZHAW" website. Here are the main points:

Jocelyn Schaad

Recruiting Manager

Our offices will be closed from December 24, 2025 to January 4, 2026.