Alaska is the largest of the 50 states that make up the United States, and Alaskan fisherman jobs are plentiful due to the state’s long coastline. Fishing rods and nets are used by traditional fishermen, who operate in small boats near the coast. Others find work as captains, deckhands, or engineers on large commercial trawlers in Alaska. Throughout the year, the Bering Sea yields a variety of marine life, with local fishermen concentrating on catching fish or crabs.
Many Alaskan fishermen work for small, locally owned and operated businesses. Small near-shore vessels with crews of one to six people are operated by these companies. During the summer, the fishermen on these boats use nets and hooks to catch herring and salmon. Each boat is piloted by a licensed captain who navigates the vessel and determines where the nest will be cast. Because the fishing season is only a few months long, most fishermen work other jobs the rest of the year.
Offshore vessels that travel hundreds of kilometers off the Alaskan coast provide a large number of jobs for Alaskan fishermen. Each boat has a captain who must navigate the boat and use sonar and satellite technology to judge the weather and locate the areas with the most abundant stocks of marine life, just like the smaller vessels. Deck hands drop metal crates known as pots into the ocean, then haul them back onto the deck using on-deck winches. Fishermen on larger boats are more likely to look for shellfish or whitefish.
On large ships, a deck boss is in charge of the crew’s activities. The deck boss is usually in charge of the winch and oversees the pot unloading. Because catching crab and other types of sea life that have not yet reached maturity can result in fines, the deck boss must ensure that the crew returns smaller fish and crabs to the ocean. At least one fisherman on each boat must double as a first aid officer, and an engineer ensures that the boat’s engine and winch remain operational.
Alaskan fishermen are paid a percentage of the sales revenue from the marine life they catch rather than a fixed salary. The ship’s captain and deck boss get a bigger cut of the profits than the rest of the crew. Deck hands typically earn 10% of the sales revenue, but first-year deck hands can make as little as 1%.