Fishing vessel skipper

If you are 16 to 24 you could start off as a fishing boat deck hand. You can do a Diploma in Sea Fishing while getting experience at sea.

When you have experience you can learn and train on the job to go on to become a skipper.

Entry requirements

There are no set entry requirements for this route but it may help you to get in if you have:

• 2 or more GCSEs at grades 9 to 3 (A* to D), or equivalent, for a level 2 course

You can start as a deckhand at sea and learn on the job. You'll usually need around 18 months' experience before you can skipper a boat. You'll also need to have completed mandatory basic safety training for:

• sea survival
• fire fighting
• health and safety
• first aid

Further information

You can find more advice about careers in the fishing industry from Seafish.

You'll need:

• knowledge of transport methods, costs and benefits
• leadership skills
• patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
• the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
• knowledge of public safety and security
• the ability to use your initiative
• excellent verbal communication skills
• the ability to use your judgement and make decisions
• to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

You'll need to:

• complete basic sea safety training – STCW – approved by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency
• pass a medical check

Fishing vessel skippers work on different types of boat, including:

• inshore vessels, which fish close to the shoreline
• limited area vessels, which fish within a set area around the UK coast
• unlimited area vessels, working in distant fishing grounds in international waters

In your day-to-day duties you may:

• plan fishing voyages
• operate and maintain equipment
• navigate the vessel
• manage the safety of the vessel and crew
• work closely with onshore agents to land and sell the catch
• make sure that fishing trips return a profit
• make sure that each fishing trip follows maritime laws and international fishing regulations
• use electronic systems for navigation, locating fish and monitoring onboard storage conditions

You could work on a boat.

Your working environment may be cramped, physically demanding and outdoors in all weathers.