Median Annual Wage: $35,250
Education: Less than high school diploma (50%); High school diploma or equivalent (25%); Post-secondary certificate (10%)
Projected Growth: Decline (-3% or lower)
Related Job Titles: Captain; Deckhand; Commercial Fisherman; Clam Digger; Commercial Crabber; Menhaden Fishing Crew Member; Crew Member; Fisherman; Lobsterman; Commercial Fishing Vessel Operator
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Source: O*NET OnLine information for Fishers and Related Fishing Workers.
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- Put fishing equipment into the water and anchor or tow equipment, according to the fishing method used.
- Maintain engines, fishing gear, and other on-board equipment and perform minor repairs.
- Sort, pack, and store catch in holds with salt and ice.
- Remove catches from fishing equipment and measure them to ensure compliance with legal size.
- Locate fish, using fish-finding equipment.
- Return undesirable or illegal catches to the water.
- Signal other workers to move, hoist, and position loads.
- Direct fishing operations, and supervise fishing crew members.
- Pull and guide nets, traps, and lines onto vessels, by hand or using hoisting equipment.
- Compute positions and plot courses on charts to navigate vessels, using instruments such as compasses, sextants, and charts.
- Oversee the purchase of supplies, gear, and equipment such as fuel, netting, and cables.
- Attach nets, slings, hooks, blades, or lifting devices to cables, booms, hoists, or dredges.
- Transport fish to processing plants or to buyers.
- Interpret weather and vessel conditions to determine appropriate responses.
- Wash decks, conveyors, knives, and other equipment, using brushes, detergents, and water.
- Connect accessories such as floats, weights, flags, lights, or markers to nets, lines, or traps.
- Load and unload vessel equipment and supplies, by hand or using hoisting equipment.
Source: O*NET OnLine information for Fishers and Related Fishing Workers.
- Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
- Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Operation Monitoring - Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
- Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
- Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
- Equipment Maintenance - Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
- Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
- Repairing - Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
Source: O*NET OnLine information for Fishers and Related Fishing Workers.