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OaSIS 2025 Version 1.0
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83120.00 – Fishing masters and officers

Fishing masters and officers manage and operate saltwater and freshwater fishing vessels greater than 100 gross tonnes to pursue and land fish and other marine life.

Overview

Example job titles

  • Fishing vessel boatswain
  • Fishing vessel deck officer
  • Fishing vessel first mate
  • Fishing vessel master
  • Offshore fishing vessel captain
  • Trawler captain

Core competencies

  • Operation and Control to navigate vessels, deploy fishing gear and manage catches efficiently and safely
  • Critical Thinking, Decision Making and Problem Solving to evaluate complex situations that impact the safety and success of fishing operations, such as changing sea conditions or unexpected equipment failures, in order to make informed decisions
  • Rate Control and Reaction Time to adjust the speed and force of fishing equipment to optimize catch rates and respond to changing conditions, such as sudden shifts in weather or unexpected movements of fish
  • Depth Perception to accurately assess underwater conditions, such as the depth of fishing nets or fish schools
  • Independence to make critical decisions and manage operations effectively in often remote and isolated environments
  • Knowledge in Livestock, Farm Animals & Wildlife to understand fish activities to target specific fish, implement sustainable practices and comply with regulations

Main duties

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

  • Command fishing vessels to catch fish and other marine life
  • Determine areas for fishing, plot courses and compute navigational positions using compasses, charts, tables and other aids
  • Steer vessels and operate navigational instruments and electronic fishing aids such as echo sounders and chart plotters
  • Direct fishing operations and supervise crew activities
  • Record fishing progress, crew activities, weather and sea conditions on ship's log
  • Select and train vessel crews.

Additional information

  • Completion of Transport Canada examinations is required to advance from Fishing Master Class IV through Class I. Training programs are provided in provincial training centres.
  • Progression to merchant or government vessel officer positions (which require a Marine Officer Certificate) is possible with additional training and experience.

Similar occupations classified elsewhere

Exclusions:

NOC hierarchy breakdown

NOC version

NOC 2021 Version 1.0

Broad occupational category

8 – Natural resources, agriculture and related production occupations

TEER

3 – Occupations usually require a college diploma or apprenticeship training of less than two years; or more than six months of on-the-job training

Major group

83 – Occupations in natural resources and related production

Sub-major group

831 – Occupations in natural resources and fisheries

Minor group

8312 – Fishing vessel masters and fishermen/women

Unit group

83120 – Fishing masters and officers

Occupational profile

83120.00 – Fishing masters and officers

O*NET in-it

This page includes information from the O*NET 27.2 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Employment and Social Development Canada has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.