The fishing industry offers a wealth of adventure and the potential to earn excellent wages, as well as opportunities for great personal and professional development, and further career progression. It's also worth saying that the sea is unlike any other working environment, and there's very little chance you'll ever get bored! A career at sea can be financially rewarding, but it’s also valuable in many other ways. You’ll learn key technical and practical seafaring skills, and – just as importantly – working as part of a close-knit crew will help you develop skills for life, such as team-building skills, resilience and dedication. These skills, plus the experience you gain, will be highly relevant to any further career choice, making you extremely employable whatever you chose to do. It’s also worth noting that fishing crew members can benefit from good periods of time off, as crews often work two trips and then have one off.

How to Have a Career in Fishing

You can enter the fishing industry via an apprenticeship or by applying directly to local businesses. There are various roles available, but typically you’ll start as a deckhand at sea and learn on the job. Before going to sea for the first time, you must complete a Sea Survival course; mandatory basic safety courses in Firefighting, Health and Safety and First Aid must also be completed within three months of starting work. These courses are offered at several training centres locally. To learn more, Seafish Training is a good place to start. Seafish may also be able to help new entrants to the industry access funding for these courses.

South Devon Fishing Apprenticeship

If you’re looking for a professional qualification and a structured course, South Devon College runs an 18-month Fishing Apprenticeship, with the first intake in 2023. Click here for details