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Fishermen
There are 4 positions that can be held as a fisherman. The
Captain is responsible for overseeing the ordering of equipment, maintenance of
the ship, location of fishing grounds, sale of the catch, and overall operation
of the ship. He is also in charge of the navigation of the ship and needs to
know how to use a compass, sextant, charts, and Trigonometry. The second in
command is the First Mate, who is the Captains assistant, needs to know how to
navigate the vessel, directs the Deckhands, and takes over for the Captain when
he is off duty. The Boatswain is a very experienced and responsible deckhand
who directs the loading of the ship, repairs some equipment, and operates the
fishing equipment. The Deckhands unload the catch, clean the ship, and assist
in bringing in the fish. There is no formal training program for becoming a
Fisherman, but some colleges offer 2 year vocational programs in this field
that could help a beginning fisherman land a job. Some colleges also offer
courses in seamanship, vessel operations, marine safety, navigation, vessel
repair and maintenance, health emergencies, and fishing gear technology. For
certain positions on some vessels you may need to take math courses for navigation or
business courses to gain management positions. Most Captains are self-employed
and so the other employees on their vessel work for them. Most Fishers
earn between $300 and $750 a week but the work and the pay is not regular. Most
are paid a predetermined percentage of what the entire vessel made, with the
captain usually receiving 50% of the total profits. Although he makes the most
he is also financially responsible for all equipment, repairs, and licensing of
the boat.
Image courtesy of
World Wide Fishing Guide |
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Image used with permission of
National Marine Fisheries Service |
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