Fisherman

Description

A fisherman uses nets and other equipment to catch different fish and other types of marine life for the purpose of human consumption or to use as bait or animal feed. Some fishermen work on big boats and fish in deep waters while others have small boats and work in shallow waters.

Common Duties/Routines

Fishermen use many kinds of equipment to catch fish such as nets, different types of fishing lines and traps. Some of them also use machinery to haul up the caught fish into the boat. Sometimes, they also dive into the water to catch fish using spears or to collect kelp or other types of vegetation found in the water using rakes. If they are experienced and high in rank, they also captain the boat. They operate and navigate it and teach and train the fishermen under them. They hire when more are required and can also fire them if they do not work properly. They supervise all the activities going on in the boat, what the fishermen are doing, whether everyone is working correctly and also monitor the maintenance and cleanliness of the boat.

The duties of a fisherman also involve operating, tending, cleaning and repairing the machinery and nets during or after fishing and keeping the boat which they fish in, is clean.

After fishing is done, they measure and check fish and release all the fish that are very small or not meet their captain’s size specifications. They also inspect fish to check for any illness or disease and get rid of the ones that do not meet the required quality. They also arrange and sort the caught fish, clean it, salt it and then store them in refrigerators or ice boxes so that they do not perish. At the shore, they unload they then also unload the fish.

It is very important for a fisherman to follow the fishing laws and rules and do not fish outside of the jurisdiction, do not catch more fish than the specified quota, tell the exact amounts of fish that has been caught to the fishery they work for, release all small and baby fish back into the waters and do not keep them just to accomplish the quota and avoid catching fish in breeding seasons.

Required/Trained Skills

• Sound knowledge of all the fishing equipment, the fishing vessel and machinery used in fishing.
• Knowledge of all the different types of fish.
• Stamina as fishermen are on their feet all the time and great strength is required to lift large nets and then hoist them back up with so much fish.
• Attention to detail to be able to determine the quality and size of fish.

No formal education is required to be a fisherman. However, the chances of getting hired increase if you enroll into a vocational program.

Most fishermen receive training on the job but if you want to manage and work on a large vessel then one must attend a program which is approved by the U.S. coastguard.

Salary/Compensation

A fisherman can be expected to earn an average of $28,000, annually.

Work Environment

Only seasonal jobs are available for a fisherman, so fishing cannot be done the whole year. It is strenuous work and a fisherman has to be on his feet all the time, picking up heavy equipment, hoisting the nets up, putting all of the caught fish in buckets and then storing them. Also, you might have to be away from home for weeks or even months. There is also the risk of getting hurt or injured on the job due to storms and large waves.

If you are looking for something permanent with regular working hours, non-fluctuating salary and do not want to work for short durations on any job, this job is not for you.

 Fishing is extremely important as fish is the main source of food for billions of poor people around the world. Being an affordable protein source, it provides nutrition to many people who cannot afford other types of protein such as chicken or meat. It is a form of aquaculture and improves food and nutrition security and is environmentally sustainable.