Fisheries observer to boatswain
A fisheries observer already meets 38% of what the boatswain role asks for. The move turns on 17 required skills not yet in the profile.
67.9/ 100
1 How much of what a boatswain is expected to do is already part of a fisheries observer’s work. Directional: the figure for the reverse move differs, because moving into a speciality is not the same problem as moving out of one. 2 Every skill the boatswain role is recorded as needing, required and optional together. What these numbers mean.
Why this move works
A boatswain role treats 11 of its required skills as things a fisheries observer already does. You would walk in with these on day one.
- International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships
- code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries
- fisheries legislation
- fishing gear
- fishing vessels
- handle fish products
What stands in the way is 17 required skills the profile does not yet cover. Table 3 groups them; Table 4 says which to take first.
Table 2 · What you already bring
Of the 13 skills that carry over, these are the ones fewest other occupations ask for. A boatswain role needs them, and most people applying for one will not have them already. This is the part of a fisheries observer background worth leading with.
- already held evaluate schools of fish information skills
- already held handle fish products handling and moving
- already held code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries agriculture, forestry, fisheries and veterinary
- already held fishing gear agriculture, forestry, fisheries and veterinary
- already held risks associated with undertaking fishing operations agriculture, forestry, fisheries and veterinary
- already held quality of fish products agriculture, forestry, fisheries and veterinary
All 13 carried skills, including the 11 the boatswain role treats as required.
Table 3 · What you may need to learn
The 23 missing skills fall into 8 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, numbered in the order worth working in. Areas carrying the most required skills come first, and inside each one the required skills sit above the optional ones. Nothing here is a verdict on you: it is a list of what this particular job asks for that your current one does not.
- still to learn operate vessel critical systems required
- still to learn stand watch on vessel required
- still to learn apply fishing maneuvres required
- still to learn use fishing vessel equipment required
- still to learn maintain safe navigation watches required
- still to learn operate ship equipment required
- still to learn support vessel manoeuvres required
- optional, not held communicate using the global maritime distress and safety system optional
- still to learn coordinate fish handling operations required
- still to learn preserve fish products required
- still to learn assist in ship maintenance required
- still to learn handle cargo required
- still to learn coordinate the ship crew required
- still to learn participate in the organisation of emergency drills required
- still to learn prepare fishing equipment required
- still to learn swim required
- still to learn train employees required
- optional, not held use maritime English optional
- still to learn extinguish fires required
- optional, not held prepare aquatic inventory reports optional
- optional, not held report to captain optional
2 further areas in the appendix
Table 4 · Where to start
The 3 entries a boatswain role is least likely to hire without. The ordering is computed from the skill data, not from what pays.
- 01 operate vessel critical systems practise this
- 02 stand watch on vessel practise this
- 03 apply fishing maneuvres practise this
Each entry opens a course search for that skill. Career Overlap earns nothing from these links.
Appendix · The rest of the record
All 13 skills that carry over
- already held International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships knowledge
- already held code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries knowledge
- already held fisheries legislation knowledge
- already held fishing gear knowledge
- already held fishing vessels knowledge
- already held handle fish products skill
- already held international regulations for preventing collisions at sea knowledge
- already held pollution prevention knowledge
- already held quality of fish products knowledge
- already held risks associated with undertaking fishing operations knowledge
- already held survive at sea in the event of ship abandonment skill
- already held evaluate schools of fish skill
- already held fisheries management knowledge
The 2 learning areas not shown above
- optional, not held assessment of risks and threats optional
- optional, not held Global Maritime Distress and Safety System optional
6 supplementary skills, helpful but not required
- optional, not held prepare aquatic inventory reports optional
- optional, not held report to captain optional
- optional, not held Global Maritime Distress and Safety System optional
- optional, not held assessment of risks and threats optional
- optional, not held communicate using the global maritime distress and safety system optional
- optional, not held use maritime English optional
27 held skills the boatswain role does not ask for
- not needed by the target role apply fishery biology to fishery management skill
- not needed by the target role collect fish samples for diagnosis skill
- not needed by the target role conduct fish populations studies skill
- not needed by the target role conduct research on fauna skill
- not needed by the target role deterioration of fish products knowledge
- not needed by the target role ensure the safety of endangered species and protected areas skill
- not needed by the target role estimate fishery status skill
- not needed by the target role fish anatomy knowledge
- not needed by the target role fish identification and classification knowledge
- not needed by the target role fishing industry knowledge
- not needed by the target role identity aquaculture species skill
- not needed by the target role inspect fish stock skill
- not needed by the target role manage fisheries projects skill
- not needed by the target role mark migrating fish skill
- not needed by the target role monitor fish mortality rates skill
- not needed by the target role monitor live fish collection skill
- not needed by the target role monitor wildlife skill
- not needed by the target role observe abnormal fish behaviour skill
- not needed by the target role perform lookout duties during maritime operations skill
- not needed by the target role preserve fish samples for diagnosis skill
- not needed by the target role report harvested fish production skill
- not needed by the target role respond to changing situations in fishery skill
- not needed by the target role safeguard biodiversity skill
- not needed by the target role wildlife projects knowledge
- not needed by the target role work in a fishery team skill
- not needed by the target role work in outdoor conditions skill
- not needed by the target role write routine reports skill
2 gaps that are knowledge rather than practice
Knowledge gaps usually close through study. Practical skill gaps usually need something you can point at.
- optional, not held Global Maritime Distress and Safety System optional
- optional, not held assessment of risks and threats optional
Common questions about this move
Can a fisheries observer become a boatswain?
Yes, and it is a substantial move. A fisheries observer already covers 38% of what a boatswain is expected to do: 13 skills carry over, 11 of which the boatswain role treats as required.
What skills does a fisheries observer need to become a boatswain?
17 required skills are missing, plus 6 optional ones. They fall into 8 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, led by working with machinery and specialised equipment. The single most important is operate vessel critical systems.
How hard is the move from fisheries observer to boatswain?
Its learning distance is 67.9 out of 100, which is the substantial band. That accounts for both how much is missing and how specialised those skills are.
How this record was compiled
Both occupations are taken from ESCO, which lists the skills and knowledge each occupation is expected to have and marks every one required or optional. Nothing here is a prediction about hiring, and nothing here knows that a particular employer wants a particular certificate. Treat Table 3 as a starting point for your own research rather than a syllabus. The full method states what these figures can and cannot tell you.