Fisher Career Profile

What the role involves

Fishers help catch, handle, store and transport seafood for commercial sale or supply. The work is usually practical, physical and safety-focused, and may involve long hours, early starts, rosters, seasonal work and time at sea or on inland waterways.

A typical day may involve preparing fishing gear, setting and hauling nets, pots or lines, sorting and cleaning catch, keeping seafood chilled, maintaining equipment, recording catch information and following workplace, safety, biosecurity and environmental requirements.

Typical employers

Fisher roles in Australia may be found with:

• commercial fishing businesses
• small-scale or family-owned fishing operations
• prawn, crab, lobster, abalone, finfish or shellfish operators
• charter fishing operators
• seafood supply, handling and processing businesses
• aquaculture farms using wild-caught broodstock or seedstock
• regional coastal and inland fishing enterprises
• Indigenous fishing, sea-country or seafood enterprises

Key tasks

• preparing, setting, hauling and repairing fishing gear
• using nets, pots, traps, lines or other fishing equipment
• sorting, cleaning, grading, storing and refrigerating catch
• helping maintain vessels, decks, ropes, winches, pumps and other equipment
• following safe work procedures on vessels or around water
• handling seafood to meet quality, hygiene and food-safety requirements
• recording catch, effort, location or production information where required
• following fisheries rules, quotas, size limits, bycatch requirements and environmental regulations
• working as part of a crew in changing weather, sea and seasonal conditions

Skills and qualities

Fishing work suits people who are practical, safety-conscious and comfortable working outdoors, on boats or around water. Useful qualities include:

• interest in marine, coastal or freshwater environments
• physical fitness and stamina
• willingness to work early starts, long shifts, weekends or seasonal rosters
• good awareness of safety around vessels, machinery, ropes, weather and water
• practical problem-solving and mechanical aptitude
• careful seafood handling and attention to quality
• teamwork and clear communication
• respect for fisheries rules, sustainable catch practices and environmental requirements
• ability to stay calm and reliable in demanding conditions

Qualifications and pathways

Some fisher and fishing hand roles can be entered through on-the-job training, especially in smaller operations. Formal training can improve safety, employability and progression into senior deckhand, vessel, aquaculture or fisheries-related roles. Useful study or training options may include:

• Certificate II in Fishing Operations
• Certificate III in Fishing Operations for more experienced or senior deckhand roles
• marine safety, sea survival, first aid or vessel-related short courses
• food-safety, seafood handling or cold-chain training
• forklift, machinery, rope-handling, net-repair or deckhand training where relevant
• on-the-job training with an experienced fishing operator or crew

With experience, fishers may progress into senior deckhand, skipper, fishing vessel operator, seafood production supervisor, aquaculture worker, fisheries compliance support, fisheries officer or seafood business owner roles.

Salary and job outlook

Pay for fisher and fishing hand roles can vary widely depending on the type of fishing, vessel, employer, region, season, catch, roster, experience and whether the role is paid hourly, by salary, by contract or partly linked to catch or production. Salary information and workplace conditions can change, so it is best to check current Australian labour-market and workplace relations sources before applying or negotiating pay.

Where jobs are usually found in Australia

Fishing jobs are often found in coastal and regional areas, including parts of Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania, New South Wales, Victoria and the Northern Territory. Some roles are based around ports, harbours, estuaries, inland fisheries, seafood processing centres or remote coastal communities. People open to early starts, seasonal work, travel or regional locations may find more opportunities.

Tips for getting started

• look for entry-level fishing hand, deckhand, seafood handling or seasonal crew roles
• consider a Certificate II in Fishing Operations or relevant marine safety training
• highlight any experience with boats, ropes, machinery, farming, seafood, hospitality, physical work or outdoor labour
• build confidence with safety procedures, seafood handling, record keeping and basic equipment maintenance
• be open to coastal, regional or seasonal opportunities
• include any first aid, sea survival, boat, forklift, food-safety or machinery training on your resume
• show employers that you understand the importance of safe work, sustainable fishing and following fisheries rules

Related environmental careers

• Aquaculture Farm Hand / Aquaculture Worker
• Aquaculture Farmer / Technician
• Fisheries Officer
• Marine Biologist
• Water Quality Officer
• Environmental Scientist
• Natural Resource Officer
• Conservation Officer