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Fisherman

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A fisher is someone who catches fish or other animals from the water.

Fisherman and his catch Seychelles
Fisherman and his catch Seychelles

Some people fish to survive, which is called subsistence fishing. Other people fish to make a profit, which is called commercial fishing. Many people also fish just for fun or competition. This is called recreational fishing. One common way to do this is angling. Anglers use a rod, a reel, a line, and hooks. They might use real bait or handmade lures. Some people even try big-game fishing to catch large species like sharks or tuna.

Charles Napier Hemy - The Fisherman 1888
Charles Napier Hemy - The Fisherman 1888

Fishing works in many different ways across the world. Most commercial fishers work in the deep sea or far offshore. In some places, men and women fish inshore using small boats. They might also gather shellfish or seaweed from the coast. In many fishing communities, people work together on many tasks. Men and women often make and repair nets. They also handle the processing and marketing of the fish after it is caught.

Egyptian fishery3
Egyptian fishery3

Humans have been fishing for a very long time. People have used fishing to find food since the Mesolithic period. This long history has even shaped ancient religions. In ancient Egypt, fish were very important to their beliefs. People worshipped mullets as a sign of the flood season. They also saw the catfish as a form of the goddess Bastet. Even their stories about how the world was made used fish as examples.

Egyptian fishery3
Egyptian fishery3

Today, fishing is a huge global activity. There are about 38 million commercial and subsistence fishers and fish farmers. In 2012, there were about 39 million fishermen in certain large producing countries. Most of these fishers live in Asian countries. Four-fifths of the world's fishers and fish farmers dwell there. The total amount of fish produced was 66 million tonnes in 2012. This meant there was an average of 3.5 tonnes of fish for every person.

Belgian Fishermen in the British Fishing Village of Brixham, Devon in 1944 TR1868
Belgian Fishermen in the British Fishing Village of Brixham, Devon in 1944 TR1868

Working on the water can be a very hard job. The fishing industry is known to be hazardous. In Alaska, fishers face high winds and very cold water. They also deal with seasonal darkness and long work days. Between 1990 and 2006, many fishers in Alaska died from work-related accidents. However, safety is getting better because of new rules. In 2004, 96 percent of fishermen survived when their boats sank. The Coast Guard uses search and rescue teams to help people in danger.

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🖼️ Images & Media (5)
File:Belgian Fishermen in the British Fishing Village of Brixham, Devon in 1944 TR1868.jpg
Belgian Fishermen in the British Fishing...
File:Egyptian fishery3.jpg
Egyptian fishery3.jpg
File:Charles Napier Hemy - The Fisherman 1888.jpg
Charles Napier Hemy - The Fisherman 1888.jpg
File:Fisherman and his catch Seychelles.jpg
Fisherman and his catch Seychelles.jpg
File:Royal Navy Sea King Helicopter Comes to the Aid of French Fishing Vessel 'Alf' in the Irish Sea MOD 45155248.jpg
Royal Navy Sea King Helicopter Comes to...
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