The proportion of self-employed workers is among the highest in the workforce.
Many jobs require strenuous work, long hours, and provide only seasonal employment.
Employment is projected to decline, due to depletion of fish stocks and new Federal and State laws restricting fishing. The captain plots the vessel's course, using navigation instruments such as compasses, sextants, and charts. Additionally, vessels are equipped with electronic navigational equipment such as autopilots, loran systems, and satellite navigation systems. Ships also use radar to avoid obstacles and depth sounders to indicate the water depth and the existence of marine life between the vessel and sea bottom. The captain directs the fishing operation through the officers, and records daily activities in the ship's log.