Fishing masters and officers
Career Overview
Fishing masters and officers:
- Manage and operate saltwater and freshwater fishing vessels greater than 100 gross tonnes to catch fish and other marine life
- Work for companies that operate commercial fishing boats
Duties
Fishing masters and officers perform some or all of the following duties:
- Command fishing vessel to catch fish and other marine life
- Decide on areas for fishing, plot courses and compute navigational positions using compass, charts, tables and other aids
- Steer vessels and operate navigational instruments and electronic fishing aids such as colour and paper sounders
- Direct fishing operations and supervise crew activities
- Record fishing progress, crew activities, weather and sea conditions on ship's log
- Choose and train vessel crews
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
115% Employed Full Time
35%Key aspects of the work in this occupation:
- Work takes place in a fishing boat
- Working on a boat in a marine environment can be dangerous
Career Pathways
Progression to merchant or government vessel officer positions (which require a Marine Officer Certificate) is possible with additional training and experience.
Completion of Transport Canada examinations is required to advance from Fishing Master Class IV through Class I. Training programs are provided in provincial training centres.
Related Careers
Occupational Interests
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For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.
Here are the top occupational interest(s) for this career profile:
Job Titles
Education, Training and Skills
- Some secondary school education is usually required
- One to two years of experience as a fishing vessel deckhand is required
- Captains require one year of service as officer in charge of the watch
- A Fishing Master's Certificate is required for all occupations in this unit group
- A commercial fishing licence is required
Education programs in B.C.
The following program areas are related to this occupation:
- Marine Training
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
115Employment by Region
| Region | Employment | % Employment of this Occupation |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 10 | 8.7% |
| Kootenay | 0 | 0.0% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 30 | 26.1% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 15 | 13.0% |
| Northeast | 0 | 0.0% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 0 | 0.0% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 60 | 52.2% |
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 (2023-2033)
40Forecasted Job Openings
Forecasted Employment Growth Rate
Composition of Job Openings
Job Openings by Region (2023-2033)
| Region | Job Openings | Avg. Annual Employment Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | Not available | Not available |
| Kootenay | Not available | Not available |
| Mainland/Southwest | 20 | 1.3% |
| North Coast and Nechako | Not available | Not available |
| Northeast | Not available | Not available |
| Thompson-Okanagan | Not available | Not available |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 20 | -0.9% |
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 (2023-2033) |
|---|---|
| Agriculture And Fishing | 40 |
Resources
Resource information is currently not available.