Jacob Nicholls
Laindon,Basildon
Summary
A recent graduate of the University of Greenwich having received an upper second-class bachelor’s degree in aquaculture and fisheries management with honours. I have a varied background in agriculture and horticulture trades in previous employment prior to university education and am currently employed at Colchester Oyster Fisheries. My range of experience has given me insight into the interactions of various aspects of rural land and water management, allowing me a holistic understanding of how rural environments function and interact with each other.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
3
3
years of post-secondary education
1
1
Certification
Work history
Fisheries Worker
Colchester Oyster Fisheries
East Mersea, Essex
2025.09 - Current
- Responsible for the running of ten 6000 litre depuration systems using water chillers/heaters, controlling flow rate and UV sterilisation to depurate oysters to render them safe for human consumption.
- Taking stock in and sending stock out using various machinery such as Besnard oyster washers and graders and packaging machines for stock being sent to customers.
- Use of office including excel sheets for stock records and traceability of products through health mark identification tags.
- Monitoring water quality in depuration systems and in the estuaries used by Colchester oyster fisheries and affiliated fishing vessels based in Mersea and Southampton/Portsmouth.
- Use of SeaFish CSO (sewage outlet) monitoring systems across fisheries in the areas being harvested from.
- Some work on oyster boat laying out youngstock in the river Colne estuary and Pyefleet creek.
- A mollusc and crustacean fishery and purification centre located on Mersea Island.
Fishery Bailiff
Crowsheath Fishery
West Hanningfield, Essex
2024.02 - 2025.09
- Executed bailiff responsibilities such as ticket collection, advising anglers, and managing membership registrations.
- Conducted water quality and lake health checks to monitor and ensure optimal conditions for fish health.
- Managed and maintained riparian areas to reduce erosion and enhance diversity of marginal plants.
- Restoration of Stock ponds for successful production of Common and Mirror carp.
- Established Cyprinid breeding programme and outdoor heated 1000 litre recirculating IBC fry system to support fish production.
- Maintenance and building of swims including disabled-access swims.
- Use of strimmers, hedge cutters and blowers for general site maintenance.
- A specimen Carp and Pike Fishery based in the Hanningfield area.
Fisheries Assistant
The Carp CO. / The Trop CO.
Hadlow, Kent
2023.04 - 2023.09
- One of the largest ornamental fish farms in the UK providing a variety of natives and Koi from Japanese genetics but spawned in Poland.
- Involved in the picking and packing of in-person and online orders through picking systems.
- Capture of stock for movement to for sale containment tanks (nettings, trappings etc.).
- Collection of damaged orders, personal delivery of larger orders to local fisheries.
- General fish welfare and maintenance work throughout weekly responsibility.
- Grading and preparation of various species for sale to the public (photographing, measuring and determining gender of specific species).
- Some experience with the artificial spawning of cyprinid species.
- Communicating with customers pre and post sales.
Assistant Manager of Field Stock
Deepdale trees ltd.
Potton, Central Bedfordshire
2017.10 - 2022.08
- Supervised operations in the industry from 2020 to 2022, overseeing team performance and workflow.
- Utilised tree and shrub identification skills to efficiently manage stock and complete orders.
- Executed the pruning of thousands of multi-stemmed hedges and trees throughout summer seasons.
- Operated heavy machinery including tractor & trailers, all-terrain forklifts, and 360 excavators to facilitate efficient operations.
- Use of boreholes and pumps alongside tractor and tankers to irrigate over 130 acres of trees.
- Loading of large abnormal load objects for distribution over mainland UK (trees to 55 ft).
- The largest stockist and seller of livestock mature trees in the UK.
Agricultural Labourer
Priory Farm
Harrold, Bedford
2013.06 - 2017.09
- Involved in summer harvest and cultivation operations over 1,300 acre mixed cereals and livestock farm.
- Use of heavy agricultural machinery and implements.
- Use of early GPS systems for cultivation work.
Agricultural Labourer
Robeson’s Dairy
Tyringham, Milton Keynes
2013.01 - 2015.01
- Oversaw care and husbandry of over 300 dairy cows, ensuring optimal health and productivity.
- Managed the husbandry and general health of the young stock.
- Operated machinery to mix feeds according to specific dietary requirements for herd well-being.
- Experience harvesting feed crops for the livestock industry (silage, hay, maize).
Education
BSc (Hons) - Aquaculture and Fisheries Management
University of Greenwich
2022.09 - 2025.07
BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma - Agriculture
Shuttleworth College
BTEC Level 2 - Construction
Ousedale School
Skills
- Aquatic habitat assessment
- Experience with survey methods, such as electrofishing, kick sampling and water quality analysis
- Can confidently collect and analyse various data and research
- Excellent time management and problem-solving skills
- Able to work well independently and within a team
- Good communication, including with members of the general public
- Leadership skills
Certification
- Full manual UK drivers’ licence
- Tractor and trailer licence
- Inhouse all terrain forklift training
- Manual handling training
- Oyster depuration certificate for operatives
Timeline
Fisheries Worker
Colchester Oyster Fisheries
2025.09 - Current
Fishery Bailiff
Crowsheath Fishery
2024.02 - 2025.09
Fisheries Assistant
The Carp CO. / The Trop CO.
2023.04 - 2023.09
BSc (Hons) - Aquaculture and Fisheries Management
University of Greenwich
2022.09 - 2025.07
Assistant Manager of Field Stock
Deepdale trees ltd.
2017.10 - 2022.08
Agricultural Labourer
Priory Farm
2013.06 - 2017.09
Agricultural Labourer
Robeson’s Dairy
2013.01 - 2015.01
BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma - Agriculture
Shuttleworth College
BTEC Level 2 - Construction
Ousedale School