Commercial fishers catch fish and other seafood for food, feed, bait and other uses. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics, which groups them with hunting workers, lists fishers' duties as locating fish with fish finding equipment, steering vessels and operating navigation instruments, maintaining engines, fishing gear and equipment, sorting, packing and storing the catch on ice or by freezing, measuring fish to meet legal size limits, returning undesirable or illegal catch to the water, and guiding nets, traps and lines onto the vessel. The jobs include fishing boat captains and deckhands. About 32 percent of workers in the group are self employed.
The short answer: AI is very unlikely to replace fishers. The ILO's 2025 index places inland and coastal waters fishery workers in its not exposed group with a score of 0.17, and deep sea fishery workers at 0.18. The BLS projects employment of fishing and hunting workers to decline 4 percent from 2025 to 2035, from 28,200 to 27,000 jobs, but the reason it gives is fishing quotas, not AI, and it still expects about 3,300 openings a year. Projections are estimates, not guarantees.
How exposed fishers are
The International Labour Organization scores occupations' tasks from 0 (cannot be automated with generative AI) to 1 (could be done without a human operator), and groups them into gradients from 1 to 4, with 4 the most exposed; below them sit minimal exposure and not exposed (ILO Working Paper 140, 2025).
| Occupation (ISCO-08) | ILO category | Mean task score (0 to 1) |
|---|---|---|
| Inland and Coastal Waters Fishery Workers | Not exposed | 0.17 |
| Deep-sea Fishery Workers | Not exposed | 0.18 |
The work happens on deck, in all weather. The BLS says commercial fishing can be dangerous, with hazards including drowning, entanglement, slippery decks, ice and large waves, and that fishing and hunting workers have one of the highest rates of occupational fatalities of all occupations.
What the BLS projects
| Occupation | Projected change 2025 to 2035 | Openings a year |
|---|---|---|
| Fishing and hunting workers | Decline 4% | About 3,300 |
The BLS says government efforts to reduce overfishing and replenish fish stocks have put some species under fishing quotas or catch shares, which dictate how many fish each fisher may catch and keep, and that these programs may limit demand for fishers over the decade. All of the projected openings come from replacing workers who retire or leave for other occupations.
Where technology and AI are helping
- Fish finding and sonar equipment, which the BLS lists as a standard tool of the job.
- Navigation and weather routing on board.
- Electronic catch reporting and record keeping for quota rules.
What stays with fishers
- Seamanship: handling a vessel and gear safely in rough conditions.
- The catch: hauling, sorting, measuring and storing it so it stays legal and fresh.
- Repairs at sea: keeping engines and gear running far from port.
- Local knowledge: where and when to fish within the rules.
- Checking AI help: generated advice on rules or weather can be wrong, which NIST calls confabulation (NIST AI 600-1). See checking AI output.
How the job is changing
Electronics already shape where boats fish and how catches are reported, but the physical work and the risk stay with the crew. Regulation of fish stocks, not automation, is what the BLS sees limiting jobs. It says no formal credential is needed: most workers learn on the job, some take 2 year vocational programs, and captains must complete US Coast Guard approved training. Many fishers are paid a share of the catch rather than a wage. This page is general information, not career advice.
See also will AI replace farm workers?, will AI replace logging workers? and will AI replace forest and conservation workers?
Pay and how to get in
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics does not publish an annual median wage for fishers and related fishing workers. The typical education needed to enter is: no formal educational credential. See how this job compares in AI exposure by pay and AI exposure by education level.
Questions and answers
Will AI replace fishers?
No. The ILO rates fishery work as not exposed, and the BLS links its projected 4 percent decline from 2025 to 2035 to fishing quotas, not AI.
How exposed are fishers to AI?
The ILO places inland and coastal waters fishery workers at 0.17 and deep sea fishery workers at 0.18, both in its not exposed group.
Why are commercial fishing jobs declining?
The BLS says quotas and catch shares meant to reduce overfishing and replenish fish stocks may limit demand for fishers.
How do you become a commercial fisher?
The BLS says no formal credential is needed; most learn on the job, and captains must complete US Coast Guard approved training.