Job Description - Fisherman:
A fisherman, also known as a fisher, uses equipment including nets, fishing rods and traps to catch fish and other marine life that will be consumed by humans or used as animal feed or bait.
Employment Facts - Fisherman:
There were 36,000 fishermen employed in 2008.
Educational Requirements - Fisherman:
To work as a fisherman one usually receives on-the-job training. Most fishermen begin as deckhands. An aspiring fisherman can also receive training through a vocational-technical (votech) program offered at a secondary school, but such programs are generally available only in coastal areas.
Other Requirements - Fisherman:
Captains and mates on large vessels must be licensed by the U.S. Coast Guard. Captains of fishing boats used for charter also must be licensed as must crewmembers on certain fish-processing vessels.
Advancement Opportunities - Fisherman:
Fishermen usually begin their careers as deckhands and receive on-the-job training. They generally find their jobs through recommendations from friends and relatives. Companies that run larger trawlers and fish-processing ships often accept applications through their human resources departments. An experienced fisherman may become first mate, which is an assistant to the captain, a boatswain, who supervises the deckhands and eventually captain of a vessel.
Job Outlook - Fisherman:
Employment of fishermen is expected to decline moderately through 2018.
Earnings - Fisherman:
Fishermen earned median hourly wages of $11.34 and a median annual salary of $23,600 in 2009 (U.S.).
Use the Salary Wizard at Salary.com to find out how much a fisherman currently earns in your city.
A Day in a Fisherman's Life:
On a typical day a fisherman's tasks might include:
- steering a vessel and operating navigational equipment
- putting fishing equipment, including nets and traps, into the water
- maintaining and repairing onboard equipment including vessel engines and fishing gear
- removing catches from equipment and measuring them to ensure they comply with legal size
- using fish finding equipment to locate fish
Sources:
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Edition, Fisherman, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos177.htm (visited January 24, 2011).
Employment and Training Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, O*NET Online, Fisherman, on the Internet at http://online.onetcenter.org/link/details/45-3011.00 (visited January 24, 2011).
