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Fisheries master

Also called fishing vessel captain, master of fishing vessel

Fisheries masters plan, manage and execute the activities of fishing vessels inshore, coastal and offshore waters. They direct and control the navigation. Fisheries masters can operate on ships of 500 gross tonnage or more. They control the loading, unloading and stevedoring, as well as the collection, handling, processing and preservation of fishing.

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.Deep-sea fishery workers · ILO

What you'd do

Deep-sea fishery workers · ILO
  • Preparing and repairing nets and other fishing gear and equipment
  • Commanding and operating fishing vessels to, from and at deep-sea fishing grounds
  • Determining areas for fishing, plotting courses and computing navigational positions using compass, charts, tables and other aids
  • Steering vessels and operating navigational instruments and electronic fishing aids
  • Directing fishing operations and supervising crew activities
  • Recording fishing progress and activities, as well as weather and sea conditions, on the ship's log
  • Baiting, setting and hauling in fishing gear
  • Cleaning, freezing, icing or salting catch on- or offshore
  • Selecting and training vessel crews
Work in outdoor conditionsSwimSupport vessel manoeuvresExtinguish firesMaintain safe navigation watches+ 24 more essential skills
What the work is like
  • Mostly outdoors
  • A mix of sitting and standing
  • Constant contact with people
  • 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 US job "Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels"

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
0 of 27 countries report a shortage of deep-sea fishery workers, 1 a surplus.
Deep-sea 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 0.18 on a scale from 0 (AI can't do it) to 1 (AI could do it fully).

See the score for each of the 9 tasks
Recording fishing progress and activities, as well as weather and sea conditions, on the ship's log0.33
Directing fishing operations and supervising crew activities0.20
Selecting and training vessel crews0.20
Steering vessels and operating navigational instruments and electronic fishing aids0.19
Determining areas for fishing, plotting courses and computing navigational positions using compass, charts, tables and other aids0.18
Commanding and operating fishing vessels to, from and at deep-sea fishing grounds0.15
Baiting, setting and hauling in fishing gear0.12
Cleaning, freezing, icing or salting catch on- or offshore0.12
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 deep-sea fishery workers. Source: ILO (2025), adapted (credits).