Fishing masters and officers
Occupation · NOC 2021 83120 · Canada
- NOC 2021 code
- 83120
- TEER
- 3
- Positions on positive LMIAs, all lists
- 3
- Median wage, Canada
- C$40.26 per hour
- Job Bank postings, Jan–Sep 2026
- 1
OC<CANFISHING<MASTERS<AND<OFFICERS<<<<<<<<<< 831200<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<0
About this occupation
Fishing masters and officers manage and operate saltwater and freshwater fishing vessels greater than 100 gross tonnes to pursue and land fish and other marine life. They are employed by establishments engaged in operating commercial fishing vessels.
Example job titles
- fishing vessel boatswain
- fishing vessel deck officer
- fishing vessel first mate
- fishing vessel master
- offshore fishing vessel captain
- trawler captain
Main duties
- This group performs some or all of the following duties:
- Command fishing vessels to catch fish and other marine life
- Determine areas for fishing, plot courses and compute navigational positions using compasses, charts, tables and other aids
- Steer vessels and operate navigational instruments and electronic fishing aids such as echo sounders and chart plotters
- Direct fishing operations and supervise crew activities
- Record fishing progress, crew activities, weather and sea conditions on ship's log
- Select and train vessel crews.
Employment requirements
- Some secondary school education is usually required.
- One to two years of experience as a fishing vessel deckhand is required.
- Captains require one year of service as officer in charge of the watch.
- A Fishing Master's Certificate is required for all occupations in this unit group.
- Marine Emergency Duties Certificate is required by Transport Canada.
- A valid Fishing Vessel Operator Certificate is required for all occupations in this unit group.
- A commercial fishing licence is required.
Temporary foreign worker positions (LMIA)
Positions on positive LMIAs in ESDC employer lists, by year of the list.
Approved positions by year
Data table
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2023 | 2 |
- Pacific Wild Fishing Inc.2
- BFC Crewaing Inc.1
Work permits
Work permit holders by year the permit took effect, mapped from NOC 2016 where the code has a single NOC 2021 successor (IRCC).
| Year | TFWP permits | IMP permits |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 0 | 10 |
| 2016 | 0 | 15 |
All work permits by year
Data table
| 2016 | 15 |
| 2017 | 10 |
Wages
Median wage by province and territory (2025 release). Hourly unless marked per year.
| Area | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | C$20.00 | C$40.26 | C$100.00 |
- Job Bank postings, Jan–Sep 2026
- 1
- Vacancies advertised
- 1
- Median advertised minimum hourly wage
- —
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