When you and your family want a change from meats like beef or chicken, you might decide to eat fish. Have you ever thought of who catches the fish? Your family might buy the fish from a store, but someone has to catch it first. Fishers and related fishing workers help to bring fish and other seafood to the stores and then to people’s tables. The job can be difficult, but it could be right for you.

Have you ever gone fishing with your family or friends? You might catch two or three fish each, or possibly a few more on a very good day. That might be enough for a family. However, supplying fish and other seafood like shrimp or lobster takes much more work. Fishers and fishing workers help to make this possible.

Generally, people in this field work either as fishing boat captains or fish deckhands. They might work in shallow water and catch smaller numbers of fish. Others work in deep water, where they might stay for weeks or longer on large boats where they catch fish and other animals that live far below the surface. Some fishers harvest marine vegetation such as Irish moss or kelp rather than fish. Others dive for animals like sea urchins or set traps for lobsters.

Captains plan and oversee the operations on fishing expeditions. They need to know the best places to find the type of catch they want. Sometimes, they hire workers and order supplies that they need for the journey. Fishing deckhands do most of the daily tasks of setting fishing lines and traps with the appropriate bait, hauling in the catch using nets or other tools, and repairing or maintaining the boat and fishing gear as necessary.

Normally, deckhands also secure mooring lines when coming into a port or removing the lines when leaving. Some people in this field also work in supporting the fishing industry, such as by selling the fish to stores or restaurants.

Physical strength and endurance can help people succeed in this very strenuous work.  People also need skills such as critical thinking and cooperation. The ability to assess weather conditions can help people avoid dangerous situations, and knowledge of trends in seafood consumption can help them choose the best type of catch to look for. If sea bass is a popular type of fish one year, for example, knowing that fact as early as possible can be helpful. Knowing where fish or other sea creatures are at a given time can also help fishers choose the best place to go. Often, managers or others who work on the land can analyze trends and look for this type of information.

Working as a fisher can be very dangerous. Boats can sink in storms at sea, and people can fall overboard or be injured while pulling in their catch. Many fishers are self-employed, and their work tends to be seasonal, which can allow them time to work in fields like teaching or writing. A high school diploma is useful, but normally people receive training on the job. Generally, salaries start at about $38,000 and can rise to $83,000. Most of the jobs are available on the east or west coast, but some work is located near lakes and rivers.

If you like to eat fish, you might want to be part of making this food available to people. The job of fisher or related fishing worker could be a good choice.

Bibliography

Careers.org. “Fishers and Related Fishing Workers.” http://www.canada.careers.org/occupations/45-3011.00/fishers-and-related-fishing-workers.

College Grad. “Fishing and Hunting Workers.” https://collegegrad.ca/careers/fishing-and-hunting-workers.

Talent.com. Fisheries average salary in Canada, 2023. https://ca.talent.com/salary?job=Fisheries.

Talent.com. Fishing average salary in Canada, 2023. https://ca.talent.com/salary?job=fishing#.

Truity. “Fishers or Related Fishing Workers.” https://www.truity.com/career-profile/fishers-or-related-fishing-workers#.