Commercial Fishing
Commercial fishing is the activity of catching fish and other seafood for commercial profit, mostly from wild fisheries. It provides a large quantity of food to many countries around the earth, but those who practice it as an industry must often pursue fish far into the ocean under adverse conditions. Large-scale commercial fishing is also known as industrial fishing. This profession has gained in popularity with the development of shows such as Deadliest Catch, Swords, and Wicked Tuna. The major fishing industries are not only owned by major corporations but by small families as well. The industry has had to adapt through the years in order to keep earning a profit. A study taken on some small family-owned commercial fishing companies showed that they adapted to continue to earn a living but not necessarily make a large profit. It is the adaptability of the fishermen and their methods that cause some concern for fishery managers and researchers; they say that for those reasons, the sustainability of the marine ecosystems could be in danger of being ruined.
Commercial fishermen harvest a wide variety of animals, ranging from tuna, cod, carp, and salmon to shrimp, krill, lobster, clams, squid, and crab, in various fisheries for these species. There are large and important fisheries worldwide for various species of fish, mollusks, crustaceans, and echinoderms. However, a very small number of species support the majority of the world's fisheries of these species are herring, cod, anchovy, tuna, flounder, mullet, squid, shrimp, salmon, crab, lobster, oyster and scallops. All except these last four provided a worldwide catch of well over a million tonnes in 1999, with herring and sardines together providing a catch of over 22 million metric tons in 1999. Many other species are fished in smaller numbers.
The industry, in 2006, also managed to generate over 185 billion dollars in sales and also provide over two million jobs in the United States, according to an economic report released by NOAA's Fisheries Service. Commercial fishing may offer an abundance of jobs, but the pay varies from boat to boat, season to season. Crab fisherman Cade Smith was quoted in an article by Business Week as saying, "There was always a top boat where the crew members raked in $50,000 during the three- to five-day king crab season—or $100,000 for the longer snow crab season". That may be true, but there are also the boats who don't do well; Smith said later in the same article that his worst season left him with a loss of 500 dollars.
Many people working in commercial fishing are self-employed, with some or all of their pay dependent on the proceeds from the sale of the fish caught. In the UK, the technical term for this is share fisherman, which refers to anyone working without an employment contract, on a boat manned by more than one person, and relying for their livelihood at least partly on a share of the profits or gross sales of the fishing boat's catch.
A 2009 paper in Science estimates, for the first time, the total world fish biomass as somewhere between 0.8 and 2.0 billion tonnes.
* Description and images provided by Wikipedia under CC-BY-SA 3.0 license .
Scholarships for Commercial Fishing Majors
BrandSource x Foster Love ScholarshipFoster Love |
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award Up to $11,000 |
deadline Varies |
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DescriptionThe BrandSource x Foster Love Scholarship is available to current and former foster youth who are pursuing a trade certification at an accredited two-year public or nonprofit college or vocational-technical school. To be considered for this award, you must be a U.S. citizen who is between the ages of 17 and 25. Eligible programs of study... View Scholarship Details |
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Helene Overly Graduate ScholarshipWomen's Transportation Seminar - Puget Sound, WA |
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award $10,000 |
deadline Varies |
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DescriptionThe Helene Overly Graduate Scholarship is available to female graduate students pursuing an education in transportation or related fields (such as transportation engineering, planning, finance or logistics). You must have a minimum 3.0 GPA and intend to enter a career in transportation or related fields to be considered for this award. ... View Scholarship Details |
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Heritage Scholarship (COT) - University of Montana, Montana TechUniversity of Montana at Montana Tech |
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award $3,568 |
deadline Varies |
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DescriptionThe Heritage Scholarship (COT) is open to entering students at the University of Montana, Montana Tech. You must demonstrate academic achievement and be majoring in a College of Technology program to be eligible for this award. View Scholarship Details |
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Red Bud Industries ScholarshipSouthwestern Illinois College |
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award $2,000 |
deadline Varies |
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DescriptionThe Red Bud Industries Scholarship is available to students at Southwestern Illinois College. You must be seeking a degree related to manufacturing such as: engineering, sales, computers, business, accounting, machining, welding or electronics. You must also be a graduate of Red Bud High School or Christ Our Savior Lutheran High School, a... View Scholarship Details |
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License Plate Scholarship (COT) - University of Montana, Montana TechUniversity of Montana at Montana Tech |
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award $2,000 |
deadline Varies |
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DescriptionThe License Plate Scholarship (COT) is open to students at the University of Montana, Montana Tech. You must be a Montana resident and majoring in a College of Technology program to be eligible for this award. View Scholarship Details |
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John Grossheim Memorial ScholarshipNuts, Bolts, and Thingamajigs Foundation |
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award Up to $3,500 |
deadline Varies |
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DescriptionThe John Grossheim Memorial Scholarship is available to students enrolled in or entering a certificate or degree program which leads to a manufacturing career on a full-time basis. You must have a minimum GPA of 2.5 for trade/tech/community college and 3.0 for college/university to be eligible for this award. Preference will be given to... View Scholarship Details |
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U.K. Gupta and Family ScholarshipNuts, Bolts, and Thingamajigs Foundation |
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award Up to $2,500 |
deadline Varies |
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DescriptionThe U.K. Gupta and Family Scholarship is available to students enrolled in or entering a certificate or degree program which leads to a manufacturing career on a full-time basis. You must have a minimum GPA of 2.5 for trade/tech/community college and 3.0 for college/university to be eligible for this award. Preference will be given to... View Scholarship Details |
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Nuts and Bolts Foundation ScholarshipNuts, Bolts, and Thingamajigs Foundation |
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award Up to $2,500 |
deadline Varies |
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DescriptionThe Nuts and Bolts Foundation Scholarship is available to students enrolled in or entering a certificate or degree program which leads to a manufacturing career on a full-time basis. You must have a minimum GPA of 2.5 for trade/tech/community college and 3.0 for college/university to be eligible for this award. View Scholarship Details |
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Anglers of Au Sable Fisheries ScholarshipLake Superior State University |
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award $1,200 |
deadline Varies |
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DescriptionThe Anglers of Au Sable Fisheries Scholarship is available to full-time senior students at Lake Superior State University. You must be majoring in the fisheries and wildlife management program, with a focus on fisheries to be eligible for this award. View Scholarship Details |
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Hiawatha Sportsman’s Club Fisheries and Wildlife ScholarshipLake Superior State University |
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award $1,000 |
deadline Varies |
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DescriptionThe Hiawatha Sportsman’s Club Fisheries and Wildlife Scholarship is available to at least sophomore students at Lake Superior State University. You must be majoring in fisheries and wildlife management program to be eligible for this award. Preference given to graduates of Engadine or Newberry High School and those who have participated in the... View Scholarship Details |
Commercial Fishing Related Majors
- Aeronautics/Aviation/Aerospace Science and Technology
- Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot and Flight Crew
- Aviation/Airway Management and Operations
- Air Traffic Controller
- Airline Flight Attendant
- Marine Science/Merchant Marine Officer
- Air Transportation
- Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation
- Marine Transportation
- Truck and Bus Driver/Commercial Vehicle Operator and Instructor
- Transportation and Materials Moving
- Flight Instructor
- Ground Transportation
- Diver, Professional and Instructor
- Railroad and Railway Transportation
- Mobil Crane Operator/Operation
- Remote Aircraft Pilot
- Flagging and Traffic Control
- Forklift Operation/Operator