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Fisheries boatman

Also called local boatman, fisheries boatwoman, local fisheries boatman

Fisheries boatmen operate small boats inshore and near the coast only. They organise, manage and execute shipping activities on deck and with engines. Fisheries boatmen capture and conserve fish or engage in aquaculture operations. They respect the safety conditions and comply with national and international regulations.

Will there be jobs?Limited prospects21 jobs to fill by 2035 for every 100 people doing this work today.Market-oriented skilled forestry, fishery and hunting workersWhat does it pay?Below averageFrom about €700 (Bulgaria) to €7,500 (Luxembourg) a month, depending on the country.Estimate · Market-oriented skilled forestry, fishery and hunting workersWhat do I need to study?Upper secondary or vocational5 in 10 finished upper secondary or vocational training. 4 in 10 train through vocational routes.Market-oriented skilled forestry, fishery and hunting workersWill AI change it?Very littleLevel 1 of 6. AI could help with only small parts of the tasks.Inland and coastal waters fishery workers · ILO

What you'd do

Inland and coastal waters fishery workers · ILO
  • Preparing and repairing nets and other fishing gear and equipment
  • Selecting area for fishing, plotting courses and computing navigational positions using compass, charts and other aids
  • Operating fishing vessels to, from and at fishing grounds
  • Baiting, setting, operating and hauling in fishing gear by hand or using hoisting equipment
  • Gathering various forms of aquatic life from shores and shallow waters
  • Maintaining engine fishing gear and other on-board equipment
  • Keeping records of transactions, fishing activities, weather and sea conditions and estimating costs and budgets
  • Sorting, and storing catch in holds with salt and ice
  • Removing catches from fishing equipment, measuring them to ensure compliance with legal size and returning undesirable or illegal catches to the water
  • Directing fishing operations, and supervising fishing crew members
SwimSupport vessel manoeuvresExtinguish firesMaintain safe navigation watchesSchedule fishing+ 23 more essential skills
What the work is like
  • Mostly outdoors
  • A mix of sitting and standing
  • Lots of contact with people, including the public
  • Good freedom to decide
  • Often more than 40 hours a week
  • Deadlines most weeks
  • Some repetitive tasks
US data: based on the O*NET profile of the related, broader US job "Motorboat Operators"

Will there be jobs?

Limited prospects

Fewer jobs than in most work will need filling by 2035.

People working as market-oriented skilled forestry, fishery and hunting workers in the EU
371k340k304k 201520232035

Solid: measured. Dashed: forecast.

Jobs to fill, 2026–2035
97,000 replacing leavers 28,000 jobs disappear
Jobs to fill per 100 people working now
Market-oriented skilled forestry, fishery and hunting workers21
All jobs29
Right now
2 of 27 countries report a shortage of inland and coastal waters fishery workers, 4 a surplus.
Inland and coastal waters fishery workers · EURES

What does it pay?

Below average

Pay depends a lot on the country: from about €700 a month (Bulgaria) to €7,500 (Luxembourg), before tax.

Pick a country at the top of the page to see typical pay there, for people under 30, and compared with all jobs.

Among skilled agricultural, forestry and fishery workers in the EU, women earn 16% more per hour than men. Skilled agricultural, forestry and fishery workers · Eurostat

What do I need to study?

Upper secondary or vocational

Upper secondary or vocational training in fisheries is the usual route.

Highest qualification of market-oriented skilled forestry, fishery and hunting workers (EU, 2025)
Degree 12%Vocational 44%General secondary 10%Basic schooling 34%
Field that teaches it
Fisheries
Vocational route, EU
4 in 10 trainees in this field

Pick a country at the top of the page to see where to study and the official course finders.

Will AI change it?

Very little

AI could help with only small parts of the tasks.

How exposed is this job? ILO scale
Very low
Low
Some tasks
Moderate
Significant
High

Average task score 0.17 on a scale from 0 (AI can't do it) to 1 (AI could do it fully).

See the score for each of the 10 tasks
Keeping records of transactions, fishing activities, weather and sea conditions and estimating costs and budgets0.42
Selecting area for fishing, plotting courses and computing navigational positions using compass, charts and other aids0.22
Directing fishing operations, and supervising fishing crew members0.19
Maintaining engine fishing gear and other on-board equipment0.14
Gathering various forms of aquatic life from shores and shallow waters0.14
Operating fishing vessels to, from and at fishing grounds0.14
Removing catches from fishing equipment, measuring them to ensure compliance with legal size and returning undesirable or illegal catches to the water0.14
Baiting, setting, operating and hauling in fishing gear by hand or using hoisting equipment0.14
Sorting, and storing catch in holds with salt and ice0.12
Preparing and repairing nets and other fishing gear and equipment0.09

Based on what AI could technically do when assessed in 2025. It is not a forecast for a future year, and not a forecast of job losses. Scores for inland and coastal waters fishery workers. Source: ILO (2025), adapted (credits).