Fishing vessel deckhands
Career Overview
Fishing vessel deckhands:
- Perform a variety of manual tasks on commercial fishing trips
- Maintain fishing boats
- Work for businesses that operate commercial fishing vessels
- Work for self-employed fishermen/women
Job Titles
Duties
Fishing vessel deckhands perform some or all of the following duties:
- Prepare nets, lines and other fishing tackle
- Operate fishing gear to catch fish and other marine life
- Clean, sort and pack fish in ice and stow catch in hold
- Repair nets, splice ropes and maintain fishing gear and other deck equipment
- Clean deck surfaces and fish hold
- Handle mooring lines during docking
- May steer vessels to and from fishing areas
- May prepare and cook meals for crew members
Earnings
Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.
Work Environment
# Workers Employed
320% Employed Full Time
22%Key aspects of the work in this occupation:
- Work takes place on a fishing boat where workers are exposed to various weather conditions
- Working on commercial fish boats can be hazardous, but hazards can be reduced by following safety procedures
- Strong odours are common on a fishing boat
Career Pathways
Fishing vessel deckhands may become skippers after getting an entry licence and a boat.
Fishing vessel deckhands may progress to watchkeeper or mate positions with additional training.
Related Careers
Occupational Interests
It’s important to understand what kinds of occupations align with your interests.
For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.
Here are the top occupational interest(s) for this career profile:
Education, Training and Skills
- There are no specific educational requirements
- On-the-job training is provided
- Trawlermen/women require at least one year of experience
- Fishing vessel deckhands require a commercial fishing licence
Education programs in B.C.
Skills
Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.
Here, you will find the 10 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.
See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Watching gauges, dials or other indicators to make sure that a machine is working properly.
Talking to others to share information effectively.
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
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.
Being able to solve novel, ill-defined problems in complex, real-world settings.
Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
Keeping track of and assessing your performance, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Labour Market Statistics
Discover data, facts and information that have been gathered and analyzed. Learn about the characteristics of the economy and labour market in B.C.
Employment
Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.
Employment
320Employment by Region
| Region | Employment | % Employment of this Occupation |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 0 | 0.0% |
| Kootenay | 0 | 0.0% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 140 | 44.4% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 15 | 4.8% |
| Northeast | 0 | 0.0% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 0 | 0.0% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 155 | 49.2% |
Labour Market Outlook
The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.
Forecasted Job Openings (2024-2034)
130Forecasted Job Openings
Forecasted Employment Growth Rate
Composition of Job Openings
Job Openings by Region (2024-2034)
| Region | Job Openings | Avg. Annual Employment Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | Not available | Not available |
| Kootenay | Not available | Not available |
| Mainland/Southwest | 100 | 4.9% |
| North Coast and Nechako | Not available | Not available |
| Northeast | Not available | Not available |
| Thompson-Okanagan | Not available | Not available |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 30 | 0.0% |
Industry Highlights
Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.
Forecasted Job Openings by Industry
| Industry | Job Openings (2024-2034) |
|---|---|
| Agriculture and Fishing | 130 |
Resources
-
Canadian Council of Professional Fish Harvesterswww.fishharvesterspecheurs.ca
