The captain is assisted by the first mate. The boatswain is an experienced deckhand with supervisory duties. The boatswain directs the deckhands. The deckhands carry out the sailing and fishing operations. Navigation and communication needs are not as important.
Crews are small.
They usually only have one or two people who work together on all aspects of the fishing. A very small amount of commercial fishing is done as diving operations. Although most fishers are involved in commercial fishing, some captains and deckhands are primarily employed in sport or recreational fishing. Commercial Fishers is in the Agriculture and Natural Resources Career Cluster. Worker Characteristics Ability to coordinate the movement of eyes and hands or fingers, as when baiting hooks Ability to move hands easily and skillfully, as when hauling in nets Willingness to perform the same tasks over and over Fishers must be able to work long hours on the sea, often under difficult conditions.