Alaska King Crab Fishing Jobs

The boats used for Alaska crab fishing jobs arelong, they will harm and possibly kill each other, as
between 12 and 75 meters (40 to 250 feet) in lengththey can be cannibalistic.
and are equipped with hydraulic systems to lift theHaving Alaska king crab fishing jobs are probably one
catch from the sea and onto the deck, the boatsof the most demanding types of fishing around as
and the equipment aboard these vessels arethe season is short and the hours are long, It has
designed to withstand the freezing weather of thebecome a very popular industry through the
Bering Sea. Each boat can stay out at sea for dayspopularity of the Discovery Channel programme
or weeks at a time."deadliest catch".
The traps or pots that are used to catch the crabsThe entry level Alaska crab fishing jobs position is
are a steel box-shaped trap consisting of a steelthat of a Deckhand or Greenhorn, The duties of a
frame covered with a wire mesh, bait is placed in thedeckhand includes loading and unloading supplies, fish
inside, usually a herring or codfish, the pot is thenand fishing equipment by hand or using hoisting
sunk to the sea floor where the king crab reside.equipment. Preparing and setting nets and other
Alaska King Crab Fishing Jobs vessels may carry upfishing equipment. Removing the catch from the
to 300 pots on a single trip which are all placed in afishing equipment, measuring and sorting it and
straight line to make retrieval easier.returning undersize or unwanted fish to the water.
The king crab in the pots are sorted once they areStoring or packing the catch in the holds with ice and
brought to the surface, and any not meeting theor salt (brine). Cleaning the vessel and fishing
regulation requirements are thrown back. The kingequipment. Fishing deckhands need to be
crab are typically stored live in a holding tank until theself-motivated and strong both physically and
boat reaches shore, where they are sold. If thementally. They need the stamina to be able to work
weather becomes too cold, the live king crab mayin dangerous conditions, while being self-disciplined and
freeze and burst. If they are left in the tank for tooalert to their surroundings at all times.