What is the STCW-F Convention?

The International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Fishing Vessel Personnel (STCW-F 1995) is the IMO framework for training and certification of personnel on fishing vessels of 24 metres or more in length operating in international waters. STCW-F is less widely ratified than the main STCW Convention — as of 2025, only around 30 states are party to it, meaning many major fishing nations regulate fishing vessel crew under national law rather than STCW-F. The Convention sets minimum standards for Skippers, Mates, Chief Engineer Officers, and Second Engineer Officers on larger fishing vessels.

What is ILO Convention C188 (Work in Fishing Convention)?

ILO Convention C188 (Work in Fishing Convention 2007) sets minimum labour standards for fishing vessel crew: minimum age, medical examinations, crew agreements, hours of work and rest, accommodation standards, food and water supply, medical care, and repatriation. C188 entered into force in 2017 and has been ratified by a growing number of states. It is the fishing-vessel equivalent of the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) 2006 for merchant ships. Flag state enforcement of C188 varies considerably — verify with the vessel's flag state.

Is fishing one of the most dangerous industries for seafarers?

Yes. The FAO and ILO consistently report that commercial fishing has one of the highest fatality rates of any industry worldwide. Vessel stability incidents (especially in adverse weather), man-overboard events, gear entanglement, and lack of search-and-rescue coverage in remote fishing grounds all contribute to the fatality rate. Labour abuse — including forced labour, debt bondage, document confiscation, and withholding of wages — is a documented problem particularly in distant-water fishing fleets. The ITF and Human Rights at Sea organisations actively monitor these issues.

What are the main types of commercial fishing vessels?

Industrial trawlers drag trawl nets along the seabed or through the mid-water column — the predominant vessel type for demersal fish (cod, haddock, tuna). Longliners deploy thousands of baited hooks on a long main line — used for tuna, swordfish, and Patagonian toothfish. Purse-seiners encircle schools of pelagic fish (mackerel, sardine, anchoveta) with a large net drawn together at the bottom. Factory ships process catch onboard. Aquaculture support vessels service fish farms (salmon, sea bass, sea bream) — a growing sector with better labour conditions than distant-water fishing.

Can I count sea time on a fishing vessel towards a merchant marine CoC?

This depends on the receiving flag state. Most STCW flag states require sea service on a vessel of 500 GT or more on international voyages to count towards a merchant CoC — and most fishing vessels are below this threshold or on non-STCW voyages. Some flags (e.g., UK MCA) have specific provisions for recognising offshore fishing vessel sea time towards limited-tonnage merchant certificates. Verify with the relevant flag administration before accumulating sea time on a fishing vessel with the intention of applying for a merchant CoC.

Fishing vessel careers

Commercial fishing vessels employ millions of people worldwide, from small-scale artisanal fishers to crew on large factory trawlers and distant-water purse-seiners. The international regulatory framework for fishing vessel seafarers — the STCW-F Convention (1995) and ILO Convention C188 (Work in Fishing, 2007) — is less uniformly ratified and enforced than the equivalent frameworks for merchant shipping (STCW, MLC 2006). This means that certification requirements, working conditions, and seafarer protections vary widely between flag states and fishing fleets. Industrial fishing is one of the highest-risk occupations at sea, with elevated fatality rates from vessel instability, man-overboard events, and gear entanglement. Labour-rights concerns — including forced labour and recruitment fraud — are a documented issue in some distant-water fleets. STCW sets the international floor where ratified; the issuing flag state can add national requirements. Always verify with the issuing administration. See also rights / recruitment fees and scams and the career pathways reference.

Regulatory framework

STCW-F 1995 (IMO) — Sets minimum training and certification standards for officers on fishing vessels of 24m or more operating internationally. As of 2025, approximately 30 states have ratified STCW-F. Non-ratifying states regulate under national law. STCW-F covers: Skipper, Mate, Chief Engineer Officer, Second Engineer Officer, and Officer in Charge of a Navigational or Engineering Watch on large fishing vessels.
ILO Convention C188 — Work in Fishing Convention 2007 — Sets minimum labour standards for all fishing vessel personnel: minimum age (16), medical certificate, crew agreement, hours of work and rest (maximum 14 hours in any 24-hour period, 72 hours in any 7-day period), accommodation, food and potable water, medical care onboard, and repatriation. Entered into force 2017. Enforcement is the responsibility of the flag state.
National fishing vessel CoCs — Most flag states issue national fishing vessel certificates (Skipper, Chief Engineer, Mate, Engineer) through their fisheries authority rather than the maritime administration. Examples: UK MCA Skipper (under 500 GT fishing vessel), Australian AMSA Skipper Certificate, Norwegian Sjøfartsdirektoratet fishing vessel certificates. Certificates are typically not recognised between flags and are not interchangeable with merchant marine CoCs.
Basic Safety Training (BST) — STCW A-VI/1 BST is required of any fishing vessel crew member on a vessel covered by STCW or STCW-F. Many national fishing vessel codes also require equivalent basic safety training.

Vessel types and sectors

Industrial trawlers — Bottom trawl (demersal fish: cod, haddock, flatfish) or mid-water trawl (pelagic fish: tuna, mackerel). Vessels range from 30m coastal trawlers to 130m+ factory trawlers. Norwegian, Icelandic, Spanish, and Chinese fleets operate large distant-water trawlers.
Longliners — Deploy lines of thousands of baited hooks for tuna, swordfish, and high-value demersal species. Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, and Spain operate large distant-water longliner fleets. Longer voyage durations (weeks to months at sea).
Purse-seiners — Large purse nets to encircle pelagic fish schools (tuna, anchoveta, sardine). Common in the Pacific (Peru, Ecuador, US West Coast) and Indian Ocean tuna fisheries. Can be highly automated on modern vessels.
Aquaculture support vessels — Wellboats (transporting live fish), feed barges, and service vessels supporting salmon, sea bass, and sea bream farms in Norway, Scotland, and Mediterranean countries. Generally better working conditions and closer to port than distant-water fishing.

Safety and labour-rights caveats

The commercial fishing industry is consistently identified by international organisations as a high-risk sector for both occupational safety and labour rights:

· Fatality rate: FAO and ILO estimate 24,000+ fatalities annually in fishing worldwide; the occupational fatality rate in industrial fishing is many times higher than in merchant shipping.
· Labour abuse: Forced labour, document confiscation, non-payment of wages, and physical abuse have been documented in distant-water fleets — particularly Taiwan, China, and Thailand-flagged vessels operating in the South Pacific and Indian Ocean. The ITF's Fisheries Campaign and Human Rights at Sea document active cases.
· Recruitment fraud: Fraudulent job offers, excessive recruitment fees, and misleading contract terms are common in the fishing sector. See rights / recruitment fees and scams before accepting a fishing vessel contract.

Salary ranges (highly variable)

Fishing vessel wages vary enormously by flag state, vessel type, crew nationality, and catch-share arrangement. Many fishing crews receive a share of the catch value rather than a fixed monthly wage, which can result in high income in good seasons and near-zero income in poor ones. European and Norwegian fishing vessel crew on licensed vessels typically earn USD 3,000–6,000/month equivalent; crews on distant-water vessels from lower-wage supply countries may receive USD 300–800/month or less. See salary database for context.

Frequently asked questions

What is the STCW-F Convention?
The International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Fishing Vessel Personnel (STCW-F 1995) is the IMO framework for training and certification of personnel on fishing vessels of 24 metres or more in length operating in international waters. STCW-F is less widely ratified than the main STCW Convention — as of 2025, only around 30 states are party to it, meaning many major fishing nations regulate fishing vessel crew under national law rather than STCW-F. The Convention sets minimum standards for Skippers, Mates, Chief Engineer Officers, and Second Engineer Officers on larger fishing vessels.
What is ILO Convention C188 (Work in Fishing Convention)?
ILO Convention C188 (Work in Fishing Convention 2007) sets minimum labour standards for fishing vessel crew: minimum age, medical examinations, crew agreements, hours of work and rest, accommodation standards, food and water supply, medical care, and repatriation. C188 entered into force in 2017 and has been ratified by a growing number of states. It is the fishing-vessel equivalent of the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) 2006 for merchant ships. Flag state enforcement of C188 varies considerably — verify with the vessel's flag state.
Is fishing one of the most dangerous industries for seafarers?
Yes. The FAO and ILO consistently report that commercial fishing has one of the highest fatality rates of any industry worldwide. Vessel stability incidents (especially in adverse weather), man-overboard events, gear entanglement, and lack of search-and-rescue coverage in remote fishing grounds all contribute to the fatality rate. Labour abuse — including forced labour, debt bondage, document confiscation, and withholding of wages — is a documented problem particularly in distant-water fishing fleets. The ITF and Human Rights at Sea organisations actively monitor these issues.
What are the main types of commercial fishing vessels?
Industrial trawlers drag trawl nets along the seabed or through the mid-water column — the predominant vessel type for demersal fish (cod, haddock, tuna). Longliners deploy thousands of baited hooks on a long main line — used for tuna, swordfish, and Patagonian toothfish. Purse-seiners encircle schools of pelagic fish (mackerel, sardine, anchoveta) with a large net drawn together at the bottom. Factory ships process catch onboard. Aquaculture support vessels service fish farms (salmon, sea bass, sea bream) — a growing sector with better labour conditions than distant-water fishing.
Can I count sea time on a fishing vessel towards a merchant marine CoC?
This depends on the receiving flag state. Most STCW flag states require sea service on a vessel of 500 GT or more on international voyages to count towards a merchant CoC — and most fishing vessels are below this threshold or on non-STCW voyages. Some flags (e.g., UK MCA) have specific provisions for recognising offshore fishing vessel sea time towards limited-tonnage merchant certificates. Verify with the relevant flag administration before accumulating sea time on a fishing vessel with the intention of applying for a merchant CoC.

Primary sources

Flag-state caveat: STCW-F sets the international floor where ratified; the majority of fishing vessel crew worldwide are regulated under national law rather than STCW-F. The issuing flag state determines certification requirements, which vary widely. Always verify current requirements with the relevant national authority before signing on to a fishing vessel.

This page is for information only and does not constitute legal or professional advice. Conditions and regulations in the fishing sector vary widely — verify with the relevant authorities and seek independent advice before accepting a contract.