Advertisements
6. Commercial Fisherman
Commercial fisherman put their bodies and minds through gruesome circumstances to provide a wealth of fish products to people around the world. Whether it’s crab fishing in the remote waters of Alaska, or fishing for tuna off the coast of New England, commercial fisherman are rugged, hard working professionals.
What makes commercial fishing dangerous is the exposure to the elements, being out at sea for hours if not days and weeks at a time with no real way to get back to shore in an emergency without having to radio for emergency services, and the potential to contract diseases from the fish that are being handled.
Pay rates for commercial fisherman varies greatly depending upon a fisher’s experience, whether or not they are self employed and how much of a profit their ship makes each year. The BLS notes that fisherman can make an average of $58,000 a year, however a 2012 CNN report on Alaskan King Crab fishing noted the increase in crab market value from $3 per pound up to $7 per pound. While there may be a bit of glory in calling yourself a commercial fisherman, the risks of the job can be fatal.
Advertisements