Profession fisheries master

Fisheries masters plan, manage and execute the activities of fishing vessels inshore, coastal and offshore waters. They direct and control the navigation. Fisheries masters can operate on ships of 500 gross tonnage or more. They control the loading, unloading and stevedoring, as well as the collection, handling, processing and preservation of fishing.

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Personality Type

• Enterprising / Realistic
• Realistic / Enterprising

Knowledge

• Assessment of risks and threats

  The security documentation and any security-related communications and information.

• International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships

  The 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 for the Control of Pollution by Noxious Liquid Substances in Bulk, prevention of Pollution by Harmful Substances Carried by Sea in Packaged Form, Prevention of Pollution by Sewage from Ships, Prevention of Pollution by Garbage from Ships, Prevention of Air Pollution from Ships.

• Fishing gear

  Identification of the different gear used in capture fisheries and their functional capacity.

• Maritime meteorology

  The scientific field of study that interprets meteorological information and applies it to ensure the safety of marine traffic.

• Fisheries management

  The 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 to use sampling material.

• Global Maritime Distress and Safety System

  The 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.

• Quality of fish products

  Factors affecting the quality of fish products. For instance, differences between species, impact of the fishing gears and parasite influence on the preservation of quality.

• Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries

  Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries and the guidelines established for professional fishers.

• Pollution prevention

  The processes used to prevent pollution: precautions to pollution of the environment, procedures to counter pollution and associated equipment, and possible measures to protect the environment.

• International regulations for preventing collisions at sea

  Fundamental 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 signals, maritime signalling and buoys.

• Fishing vessels

  Denomination of the different elements and equipment of fishing vessels.

• Risks associated with undertaking fishing operations

  General risks occuring when working on fishing boats and specific risks occurring only in some fishing modalities. Prevention of threats and accidents.

• Fisheries legislation

  The study and analysis of different fisheries management approaches taking into account international treaties and industry norms in order to analyze fisheries management regulations. 

• Deterioration of fish products

  Process of decomposition and spoilage of fish products: physical, enzymatic, microbiological and chemical processes occurring after harvesting.

Skills

• Work in outdoor conditions

  Can cope with the different climate conditions such as heat, rain, cold or in strong wind.

• Use water navigation devices

  Utilise 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 with recent charts/maps, notices, and publications in order to determine the precise position of a vessel.

• Prepare and execute regular safety exercises

  Plan and perform regular safety exercises; maximise safety in potentially dangerous situations.

• Apply fishing maneuvres

  Run shooting and hauling gear operations for its optimal performance, complying with the regulations for responsible fishing and with the security measures.

• Operate ship rescue machinery

  Operate 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 communicate location, including communications and signalling apparatus and pyrotechnics.

• Assess stability of vessels

  Assess the two kinds of stability of vessels, namely transversal and longitudinal.

• Maintain safe navigation watches

  Observe 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 safety and emergency procedures. Observe safety precautions during a watch and take immediate actions in the event of fire or accident.

• Recognise abnormalities on board

  Identify 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 to be taken in the event of an identified problem.

• Coordinate fire fighting

  Organize and direct the operations of fire fighting, according to the ship's emergency plans to ensure safety.

• Coordinate fish handling operations

  Organise fish handling operations to avoid fish products deterioration. Check the cleanliness of the deck and fishing hole before loading and manipulation. Control that the fishes are headless, gutted, washed and sorted. Perform operations taking into account health hygiene regulations.

• Undertake navigation safety actions

  Recognise unsafe situations and perform follow-up actions according to the safety regulations. Immediately warn ship management. Use personal protective and rescue equipment.

• Use maritime English

  Communicate in English employing language used in actual situations on board ships, in ports and elsewhere in the shipping chain.

• Coordinate cargo handling

  Organize stowing with a plan of load distribution to get the stability of the vessel and security. Direct cargo operations.

• Prevent sea pollution

  Organize and monitor environment protection applying the regulations for pollution prevention at sea.

• Provide on-board safety training

  Develop and implement on-board safety training programmes.

• Secure cargo in stowage

  Secure cargo stowage with basic knowledge of stowing methods; ensure efficient and safe transport of goods.

• Communicate using the global maritime distress and safety system

  Send 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 vessels in the area.

• Provide training

  Provide training and orientation to new team members, or assign this task to an appropriately experienced team member.

• Provide first aid

  Administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation or first aid in order to provide help to a sick or injured person until they receive more complete medical treatment.

• Survive at sea in the event of ship abandonment

  Identify 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 inverted liferaft while wearing a swim while wearing a lifejacket. Keep afloat without a lifejacket. Board a survival craft from the ship, or from the water while wearing a lifejacket. Take initial actions on boarding survival craft to enhance chance of survival. Stream a drogue or sea-anchor. Operate survival craft equipment. Operate location devices, including radio equipment.

• Swim

  Move through water by means of the limbs.

• Support vessel manoeuvres

  Participate in manoeuvres at port: berthing, anchoring and other mooring operations. Contribute to a safe navigational watch.

• Extinguish fires

  Choose the adequate substances and methods to extinguish fires depending on their size, such as water and various chemical agents. Use a breathing apparatus.

• Assess trim of vessels

  Assess the trim stability of vessels, referring to the stability of a vessel while it is in a static condition.

• Use meteorological information

  Use and interpret meteorological information for operations dependent on climatic conditions. Use this information to provide advise on safe operations in relation to weather conditions.

• Evaluate schools of fish

  Interprete the information provided by electronic equipment and other aid to fisheries to evaluate the characteristics of a school of fish.

• Conduct water navigation

  Ensure 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 the pilot's information sheet.

• Ensure vessel compliance with regulations

  Inspect vessels, vessel components, and equipment; ensure compliance with standards and specifications.

• Schedule fishing

  Organise effective fishing manoeuvres taking into account the meteorological conditions and the extractive system.

Optional knowledge and skills

Source: Sisyphus ODB