Deckhand
Salary: $57,000 - $100,000
As an aquaculture deckhand, you’ll work as part of a crew on marine farms, helping to grow, maintain, and harvest sensational seafood such as mussels, salmon and oysters.
It’s a physically active job that requires teamwork, a strong work ethic, and a love for the ocean.
You’ll never be bored in this role!
A usual working week is four days on, four days off, on a rota basis.
What you’ll do
A deckhand's duties vary by species and vessel type, but you may do some or all the following:
Deploy and retrieve growing lines, spat catchers and flats
Clean biofouling from lines, ropes, and structures
Harvest mature product using hydraulic or manual equipment
Sort and grade shellfish onboard or at processing sites
Assist with farm maintenance: repairing floats, ropes and anchors
Operate deck equipment such as winches and cranes
Assist with vessel maintenance
Comply with health, safety, and marine regulations.
What we’re looking for
Your career starts here—no formal qualifications are required!
You will need to be physically fit, and comfortable with heavy lifting and manual work.
Deckhands must also be reliable, safety-conscious and able to work in a team
If you have marine experience or a background in farming, fishing or trades that is useful but not essential.
You will need to be age 16 + and preferably have a current driving licence.
Build on your qualifications
You'll have the opportunity to learn and grow your skills:
Crane Operator training
Primary ITO Level 3 and Level 4 Certificate in Shellfish
First Aid certificate
Forklift Operators’ certificate
Working at Height safety training
Want to study New Zealand Certificate in Domestic Maritime Crewing?
New Zealand School of Maritime (Manukau Institute of Technology)
Toi Ohomai
NMIT
Where to from here?
Be a skipper with a Skipper Restricted Limits (SRL) endorsement for vessels up to 24 metres, then progress through intermediate qualifications that build sea service and competencies to a Master <500GT.