About Professional Fishermen
The life of a professional fishermen is one of intense activity, adventure and high risk. The work is seasonal, and the pay is not guaranteed - but when the sea is bountiful, sailors can pick up a substantial pay package. It's also a substantially dangerous job. Inclement weather, slippery decks and the chance of shipwreck all make it a bit more of a rough job than office work.
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Significance
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Commercial fishing is quite different from the sport that many people grow up with. Fishing boats load up with potentially tons of fish. Fishermen have to work quickly to remove fish from their nets and to refrigerate them almost immediately. They then have to deliver the fish to harbor quickly and then head back out. In some cases, fishermen can be out at sea for weeks or months at a time. There's a need for both skilled and unskilled labor: deck hands, boat pilots, specialists in shrimp, crab and much more.
Function
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When many people think about commercial fishing, they may be reminded of fiction - of books like Herman Melville's Moby Dick. While the modern fishing industry does still rely largely on the brawn and bravery of its hardy labor force, it has also been revolutionized by information technology and natural science just like every other sector of the economy. Potential captains need to fulfill licensing requirements which differ by the state. Skilled jobs have education requirements as well.
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Features
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Most people in the fishing industry work onshore, and offshore work is more competitive. Employers look for people in good health, and reward people with particular experience in the industry. The most desired jobs are those in fish harvesting, but people interested in making fishing their career can work their way up to it by working as offshore fish processors first. All the work in the fishing industry is relatively difficult, but the compensation relative to the education required is considerable.
Considerations
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Offshore fishermen can expect to be away from home for fairly long periods of time. As such, it can be rough on family relations and the social life. However, money troubles are much less omnipresent for professional fishermen than they are for people with a similar education level and financial background. For people willing to work hard in difficult conditions, it can be a blue collar ladder to an early retirement and good rewards for seasonal labor.
Benefits
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Skilled offshore harvesters can make more than $5 to $15,000 per month during fishing season. The difficulty of the work often leads many fishermen to take the rest of the year off, living off of the savings. The flexibility and sheer cash payment offered in the fishing industry make it a very attractive choice. The lack of unionization also reduces the barrier to entry considerably compared to other somewhat similar career paths like construction. The local nature of the business lowers the competition from international markets as well. Don't underestimate the difficulty involved, but be aware that the rewards are quite considerable.
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Resources
- Photo Credit jack_spellingbacon, Flickr
