Do you want to become a Fisherman/woman/Skipper? Here is some information to help point you in the right direction:
Job Description - 
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Fishermen/women/Skippers are part of a fishing vessel's crew, travelling out to sea in order to catch fish. Their working environment is tough and potentially dangerous. The work includes:
· operating fishing gear
· sorting, gutting and storing fish
· repairing nets and equipment
· keeping the vessel clean and hygienic.
Fishermen/women work long hours in all types of weather conditions. The work is very physically demanding.
Inshore boats fish close to the shore, usually going out to sea each day. Large freezer ships can go to more distant fishing grounds and may be away for as long as two months.
A new entrant earns around £10,000 a year, while skippers can earn up to £100,000.
A fisherman/woman/Skipper needs to
· be willing to spend long periods away from home
· be physically fit, with plenty of energy and stamina
· be able to work safely in difficult conditions
· be interested in boats and working at sea.
The UK fishing industry is mainly based in Scotland and along the east and south west coasts of England. Employers range from large companies to small family businesses with just one or two people.
Self-employment is common although the number of job opportunities is declining.
There are no set entry requirements, but all new entrants must take four one-day safety training courses. Apprenticeships may be available, leading to an NVQ/SVQ at Level 2 or 3.
Most people who enter the fishing industry are young, and often from fishing families. There is no upper age limit but entrants normally need some experience of working at sea.
With the necessary qualifications and experience, fishermen/women can follow the deck route to progress from a deckhand to a mate and then a skipper, or the engineering route, leading to the job of chief engineer.
There may also be opportunities to work on foreign fishing vessels, or to move into other areas such as the Merchant Navy, fish farming, or oil and gas exploration.
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