Agriculture & EnvironmentISCO 6222
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.
Check yourself in a minute: fisheries boatman
Rate 5 of the 43 essential skills of this occupation (European ESCO data). No account needed.
assess trim of vessels
preserve fish products
provide first aid
use water navigation devices
extinguish fires
About fisheries boatman
As a fisheries boatman, you will operate small fishing vessels in inshore and coastal waters, taking on a vital role in Poland's maritime food production. Your daily responsibilities include organizing and executing shipping activities on deck, managing engines and equipment, deploying and retrieving fishing gear, and ensuring the safety of your crew and cargo. You will work with fish capture and conservation techniques, monitor vessel stability and cargo stowage, and maintain strict compliance with international maritime regulations including collision prevention rules, pollution prevention standards, and the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System. Your expertise in assessing fish product quality and implementing proper preservation methods directly impacts the commercial value of catches and food safety standards. As a skilled boatman, you will be in high demand given Poland's significant fishing industry and the constant need for experienced crew on commercial and artisanal vessels operating in the Baltic Sea and beyond.
Key Work Functions
Core areas of responsibility for a fisheries boatman.
1
Vessel Operation and Navigation
- Operate fishing vessel engines and propulsion systems
- Navigate vessel in coastal and inshore waters using maritime charts and instruments
- Monitor vessel stability and trim during fishing operations
- Maintain compliance with international collision prevention regulations
2
Fishing Operations and Gear Management
- Deploy and manage fishing gear including nets, lines, and traps
- Execute fish capture and preservation procedures
- Assess and maintain quality of fish products during storage and transport
- Engage in aquaculture operations when required
3
Safety and Compliance
- Operate and maintain vessel safety equipment and fire-fighting systems
- Assess risks and threats in fishing operations and sea conditions
- Provide first aid and on-board safety training to crew members
- Comply with maritime meteorology observations and weather forecasts
- Ensure compliance with fisheries legislation and international pollution prevention standards
4
Cargo Handling and Stowage
- Apply principles of proper cargo stowage to maintain vessel balance
- Preserve fish products using appropriate conservation methods
- Monitor deterioration of fish products and implement corrective measures
5
Communication and Distress Response
- Operate Global Maritime Distress and Safety System equipment
- Maintain regular communication with port authorities and other vessels
- Respond to emergency situations following maritime protocols
European Skills Framework
Skills and knowledge areas required for this occupation based on European classification.
Essential (43)
international regulations for preventing collisions at seainternational regulations for preventing collisions at seaFundamental aspects of the international regulations to prevent collisions at sea, such as the conduct of vessels in sight of one another, navigation lights and markers, major light and accoustic sign...assessment of risks and threatsassessment of risks and threatsThe security documentation and any security-related communications and information.code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheriescode of Conduct for Responsible FisheriesFood and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries and the guidelines established for professional fishers.International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from ShipsInternational Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from ShipsThe fundamental principals and requirements laid in the International Regulation for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL): Regulations for the Prevention of Pollution by Oil, Regulations fo...deterioration of fish productsdeterioration of fish productsProcess of decomposition and spoilage of fish products: physical, enzymatic, microbiological and chemical processes occurring after harvesting.fisheries legislationfisheries legislationThe study and analysis of different fisheries management approaches taking into account international treaties and industry norms in order to analyze fisheries management regulations.maritime meteorologymaritime meteorologyThe scientific field of study that interprets meteorological information and applies it to ensure the safety of marine traffic.fire-fighting systemsfire-fighting systemsThe devices and systems used to extinguish fires; the classes and chemistry of fire.principles of cargo stowageprinciples of cargo stowageThe principles of cargo stowage. The procedures by which containers should be efficiently loaded and unloaded, taking into account gravitational forces that are exerted during transportation.risks associated with undertaking fishing operationsrisks associated with undertaking fishing operationsGeneral risks occuring when working on fishing boats and specific risks occurring only in some fishing modalities. Prevention of threats and accidents.quality of fish productsquality of fish productsFactors affecting the quality of fish products. For instance, differences between species, impact of the fishing gears and parasite influence on the preservation of quality.provide on-board safety trainingprovide on-board safety trainingDevelop and implement on-board safety training programmes.assess trim of vesselsassess trim of vesselsAssess the trim stability of vessels, referring to the stability of a vessel while it is in a static condition.preserve fish productspreserve fish productsPlace and classify fish products for proper conservation. Maintain suitable conditions for the conservation of fishery products.provide first aidprovide first aidAdminister cardiopulmonary resuscitation or first aid in order to provide help to a sick or injured person until they receive more complete medical treatment.prepare safety exercises on shipsprepare safety exercises on shipsPlan and perform regular safety exercises on passenger and commercial ships; maximise safety in potentially dangerous situations.use water navigation devicesuse water navigation devicesUtilise water navigation devices, e.g. compass or sextant, or navigational aids such as lighthouses or buoys, radar, satellite, and computer systems, in order to navigate vessels on waterways. Work wi...extinguish firesextinguish firesChoose the adequate substances and methods to extinguish fires depending on their size, such as water and various chemical agents. Use a breathing apparatus.secure cargo in stowagesecure cargo in stowageSecure cargo stowage with basic knowledge of stowing methods; ensure efficient and safe transport of goods.prevent sea pollutionprevent sea pollutionOrganize and monitor environment protection applying the regulations for pollution prevention at sea.manage ship emergency plansmanage ship emergency plansOrganize and manage emergency operations, flooding, abandoning ship, survival at sea, search and rescue of shipwrecked, according to the ship's emergency plans, to ensure the safety.ensure vessel compliance with regulationsensure vessel compliance with regulationsInspect vessels, vessel components, and equipment; ensure compliance with standards and specifications.handle fish productshandle fish productsHandle fish with care and hygiene required to maintain quality. Adequately prepare fish products for storage.manage cargo handlingmanage cargo handlingManage safely the mechanical elements in the loading and unloading of cargo and stores. Organize stowing and unstowing of products to guarantee the stability of the vessel.recognise abnormalities on boardrecognise abnormalities on boardIdentify anomalies and abnormalities on board, evaluate them, and take appropriate actions to restore normal operation of ship. Check all (safety) systems for operational functions. Organise actions t...evaluate schools of fishevaluate schools of fishInterpret the information provided by electronic equipment and other aid about fisheries to evaluate the characteristics of a school of fish.schedule fishingschedule fishingDesign and implement more effective fishing manoeuvres; given the meteorological conditions and the extractive system.support vessel manoeuvressupport vessel manoeuvresParticipate in manoeuvres at port: berthing, anchoring and other mooring operations. Contribute to a safe navigational watch.train employeestrain employeesLead and guide employees through a process in which they are taught the necessary skills for the perspective job. Organise activities aimed at introducing the work and systems or improving the perform...swimswimMove through water by means of the limbs.operate ship propulsion systemoperate ship propulsion systemPerform start-up and subsequent observation of the working parameters of the ship's propulsion system. Check the operating parameters of electric generators in the switchboard, power sources and elect...vessel safety equipmentvessel safety equipmentSafety equipment used in vessels, including devices such as lifeboats, life rings, splash doors and fire doors, sprinkler systems, etc, and how these must be operated during emergency situations.undertake navigation safety actionsundertake navigation safety actionsRecognise unsafe situations and perform follow-up actions according to the safety regulations. Immediately warn ship management. Use personal protective and rescue equipment.assess stability of vesselsassess stability of vesselsAssess the two kinds of stability of vessels, namely transversal and longitudinal.vessel stability principlesvessel stability principlesThoroughly understand the principles of vessel stability; follow safety requirements during loading and unloading of cargo.Global Maritime Distress and Safety SystemGlobal Maritime Distress and Safety SystemThe internationally agreed-upon set of safety procedures, types of equipment and communication protocols used to increase safety and make it easier to rescue distressed ships, boats and aircraft.fishing gearfishing gearIdentification of the different gear used in capture fisheries and their functional capacity.survive at sea in the event of ship abandonmentsurvive at sea in the event of ship abandonmentIdentify muster signals and what emergencies they signal. Comply with established procedures. Don and use a lifejacket or an immersion suit. Safely jump into the water from a height. Swim and right an...maintain safe navigation watchesmaintain safe navigation watchesObserve principles in keeping a navigation watch. Take over, accept and pass on a watch. Steer the vessel and perform routine duties undertaken during a watch. Observe emergency procedures and safety ...communicate using the global maritime distress and safety systemcommunicate using the global maritime distress and safety systemSend an alert in case of distress, using any of the various GMDSS radio systems such that the alert has a very high probability of being received by either shore rescue authorities and/or other vessel...fishing vesselsfishing vesselsDenomination of the different elements and equipment of fishing vessels.conduct water navigationconduct water navigationEnsure that a vessel carries up to date and adequate charts and appropriate nautical documents. Lead the process of preparing the voyage report, the vessel passage plan, daily position reports, and th...apply fishing maneuvresapply fishing maneuvresRun shooting and hauling gear operations for its optimal performance, complying with the regulations for a responsible fish and with the security measures.
Optional (26) — show
fishing industryfishing industryThe business model of the fishing industry, including recreational, subsistence and commercial fishing, and the harvesting, processing, and marketing sectors.work in outdoor conditionswork in outdoor conditionsCan cope with the different climate conditions such as heat, rain, cold or in strong wind.communicate verbal instructionscommunicate verbal instructionsCommunicate transparent instructions. Ensure that messages are understood and followed correctly.lead a teamlead a teamLead, supervise and motivate a group of people, in order to meet the expected results within a given timeline and with the foreseen resources in mind.compose stowage planscompose stowage plansCompose stowage plans; knowledge of ballast systems and cargo loading process.manage budgetsmanage budgetsPlan, monitor, report on the budget and prepare set production budgets.manage staffmanage staffManage employees and subordinates, working in a team or individually, to maximise their performance and contribution. Schedule their work and activities, give instructions, motivate and direct the wor...respond to changing situations in fisheryrespond to changing situations in fisheryAct decisive and in time to unexpected and rapidly changing situations in fishery.coordinate passengerscoordinate passengersMeet with cruise ship passengers to help organise them for off-vessel excursions. Guide guests on excursions, such as sport fishing, hikes, and beachcombing. Assist with embarking and disembarking gue...adapt to changes on a boatadapt to changes on a boatAcclimate to a constant change in work and living environments on boats by adapting one's behaviour and perspective on various tasks and responsibilities.use different communication channelsuse different communication channelsMake use of various types of communication channels such as verbal, handwritten, digital and telephonic communication with the purpose of constructing and sharing ideas or information.operate stowage programmesoperate stowage programmesOperate stowage programmes used for controlling stability in vessels, loading operations, and cargo planning processes. Interpret graphical interfaces, stowage data and scenario variables.communicate clearly with passengerscommunicate clearly with passengersSpeak clearly in addressing travellers; communicate information related to their itinerary. Make announcements to passengers upon approaching the prescribed destination.prepare fishing equipmentprepare fishing equipmentDispose fishing gear and ship's deck for successful extraction activities. Coordinate the crew in this operation.communicate in an outdoor settingcommunicate in an outdoor settingCommunicate with participants in more than one language of the European Union; handle a crisis following guidelines and recognise the importance of proper behaviour in crisis situations.handle challenging situations in fishery operationshandle challenging situations in fishery operationsCope with and face harsh circumstance at sea by keeping pre-set goals and deadlines in mind. Tackle frustations such as the loss of revenue and catch.cope with challenging circumstances in the fishery sectorcope with challenging circumstances in the fishery sectorAdapt to changing circumstances in a positive way and stay calm under stressful situations while performing fishery operations.work in a multicultural environment in fisherywork in a multicultural environment in fisheryInteract and communicate with individuals and groups from different cultures and backgrounds in fishery operations.use maritime Englishuse maritime EnglishCommunicate in English employing language used in actual situations on board ships, in ports and elsewhere in the shipping chain.read stowage plansread stowage plansRead and comprehend content of stowage plans to stow various types of cargo.be friendly to passengersbe friendly to passengersEngage with passengers according to the expectations of contemporary social behaviour, the specific situation, and the code of conduct of the organisation. Communicate in a polite and clear way.collect broodstockcollect broodstockSource broodstock from fisheries and held them in maturation tanks before collecting their seeds.identify the factors causing changes in food during storageidentify the factors causing changes in food during storageRecognize the most relevant factors (chemical, physical, environmental etc) that can alter the food during its storage.operate ship rescue machineryoperate ship rescue machineryOperate rescue boats and survival craft. Launch the boats as required and operate their equipment. Take care of survivors and survival craft after abandoning ship. Use electronic devices to track and ...manage time in fishery operationsmanage time in fishery operationsEnsure an efficient management of work schedules meant for fishery and aquaculture activities.fisheries managementfisheries managementThe principles, methods and equipment used in population management applied to fisheries: the concept of catch, by-catch, fishing effort, maximum sustainable yield, different sampling methods and how ...
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Frequently asked questions
What does a fisheries boatman do?
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.
What skills does a fisheries boatman need?
A fisheries boatman needs 43 essential skills, including international regulations for preventing collisions at sea, assessment of risks and threats, code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, deterioration of fish products.
Will AI replace fisheries boatman jobs?
The AI disruption score for fisheries boatman is 21/100 (low risk). Skills most exposed to automation: operate stowage programmes, manage budgets, read stowage plans. Most resilient: deterioration of fish products, swim, work in outdoor conditions.
AI Replacement Risk
21/ 100
Low Risk
Low riskHigh risk
Quick Facts
ISCO GroupMarket-oriented skilled forestry, fishery and hunting workers
Essential Skills43
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