Fishing vessel skipper

You would move onto this role after working as a deckhand. You would be in charge of a boat that catches fish at sea. You’d plan voyages, navigate to fishing grounds, work on deck and sell the catch to agents when back on shore.

There are different types of boats you could work on:

• Inshore vessels, which do not go far from the coast

• Limited area vessels, which work within a set area around the coast of the United Kingdom

• Unlimited area vessels, working in distant fishing grounds in international waters

As a skipper, you’d use your knowledge of the sea and weather patterns to plan fishing voyages. You’d also navigate the vessel.

And understanding of electronics and basic engineering will help you safely operate and maintain the equipment. Most modern vessels use electronic systems for navigation, to locate fish and monitor the onboard storage conditions.

It’s a responsible job. The crew will rely on you to keep them and the boat safe. You will be expected to remain calm under pressure and make quick decisions in emergency situations. First aid skills will be valuable.

You’d also need to make sure that the fishing trips are profitable. You’d work closely with onshore agents to land and sell the catch.

Each fishing trip will need to follow maritime laws and international fishing regulations.

You could work on fishing vessels ranging from small, single-handed boats to large factory trawlers.

• Seafish - Careers information from UK public body which promotes a profitable, sustainable and responsible seafood industry

• UK Government information about fishing certification and training

• Lantra Scotland - Training and skills for the land-based, aquaculture and environmental sector