Fisherman

A fisherman, or fisher, is a person who captures fish and other aquatic animals from bodies of water. This role can also involve gathering shellfish from the sea or coast. Fishing is a vital human activity that serves several different purposes. Some people engage in subsistence fishing, which means they fish primarily for survival and food. Others participate in commercial fishing, which is done for economic profit. Finally, recreational fishing is done for pleasure or competition.

Recreational fishing includes several specific methods and techniques. One very common form is angling, which is the practice of catching fish using a hook. Anglers typically use a rod, a reel, a line, and various types of bait. Sometimes, fishers use lures, which are artificial objects like plastic lures or flies, instead of real bait. There is also big-game fishing, where people use boats to target large open-water species. These species include tuna, marlin, and sharks. Other unique recreational activities include trout tickling and noodling.

In many fishing communities, the work involves a complex series of shared tasks. While many fishers work in offshore or deep-sea fisheries, others work inshore using small boats. In artisanal fishing communities, both men and women play essential roles. They are often responsible for making and repairing nets. They also handle post-harvest processing, which is preparing the fish after it is caught. Finally, they manage the marketing of the catch to ensure it reaches consumers.

Humans have relied on fishing for food since the Mesolithic period. This long history has even shaped the religious beliefs of ancient civilizations. In ancient Egypt, fish were deeply connected to spiritual life. For example, mullets were worshipped as a sign of the arriving flood season. The goddess Bastet was often manifested in the form of a catfish. Even Egyptian literature used fish to explain the world. The process of creation used by Amun was associated with the mouth-brooding method of the tilapia.

Today, fishing is a massive global industry with significant economic numbers. There are approximately 38 million commercial and subsistence fishers and fish farmers worldwide. In 2012, countries producing more than 200,000 tonnes of fish had about 39 million fishermen. This represented a 140% increase from the numbers recorded in 1995. The total fishery production reached 66 million tonnes in 2012. This resulted in an average productivity of 3.5 tonnes per person. Most of this growth occurred in Asia, where four-fifths of the world's fishers and fish farmers live.

Despite its importance, the fishing industry is a very hazardous occupation. Many fishers face extreme physical stress, fatigue, and financial pressures. In Alaska, commercial fishers work in some of the harshest environments on Earth. They must endure high winds, seasonal darkness, and very cold water. Between 1990 and 2006, 311 of the 948 work-related deaths in Alaska were fishermen. This is an annual fatality rate of about 128 per 100,000 workers. This rate is 26 times higher than the overall U.S. work-related fatality rate.

Safety improvements are slowly changing the risks faced by these workers. In the early 1990s, the U.S. Coast Guard implemented new safety requirements. These rules helped significantly increase survival rates during accidents. In 1991, only 73 percent of fishermen survived vessel sinkings or capsizings. By 2004, that survival rate had risen to 96 percent. However, the work remains dangerous, as Alaska still loses 20 to 40 vessels every year. About 100 fishermen require rescue from cold Alaskan waters annually. These rescues depend on expertly trained Coast Guard personnel, though the weather can hinder their efforts.