| Alaska king crab fishing jobs are a seasonal | | | | stored live in a holding tank until the boat |
| occupation which is carried out during the | | | | reaches shore, where they are sold. If the |
| winter months in the waters off the coast of | | | | weather becomes too cold, the live king crab |
| Alaska and the Aleutian Islands. The harvest | | | | may freeze and burst. If they are left in the |
| is performed during a very short season, and | | | | tank for too long, they will harm and |
| the catch is shipped worldwide. Large numbers | | | | possibly kill each other, as they can be |
| of king crab are also caught in Russian and | | | | cannibalistic. |
| international waters. | | | | |
| | | | Having Alaska king crab fishing jobs are |
| The boats used for Alaska crab fishing jobs | | | | probably one of the most demanding types of |
| are between 12 and 75 meters (40 to 250 feet) | | | | fishing around as the season is short and the |
| in length and are equipped with hydraulic | | | | hours are long, It has become a very popular |
| systems to lift the catch from the sea and | | | | industry through the popularity of the |
| onto the deck, the boats and the equipment | | | | Discovery Channel programme "deadliest |
| aboard these vessels are designed to | | | | catch". |
| withstand the freezing weather of the Bering | | | | |
| Sea. Each boat can stay out at sea for days | | | | The entry level Alaska crab fishing jobs |
| or weeks at a time. | | | | position is that of a Deckhand or Greenhorn, |
| | | | The duties of a deckhand includes loading |
| The traps or pots that are used to catch the | | | | and unloading supplies, fish and fishing |
| crabs are a steel box-shaped trap consisting | | | | equipment by hand or using hoisting |
| of a steel frame covered with a wire mesh, | | | | equipment. Preparing and setting nets and |
| bait is placed in the inside, usually a | | | | other fishing equipment. Removing the catch |
| herring or codfish, the pot is then sunk to | | | | from the fishing equipment, measuring and |
| the sea floor where the king crab reside. | | | | sorting it and returning undersize or |
| Alaska King Crab Fishing Jobs vessels may | | | | unwanted fish to the water. Storing or |
| carry up to 300 pots on a single trip which | | | | packing the catch in the holds with ice and |
| are all placed in a straight line to make | | | | or salt (brine). Cleaning the vessel and |
| retrieval easier. | | | | fishing equipment. Fishing deckhands need to |
| | | | be self-motivated and strong both physically |
| The king crab in the pots are sorted once | | | | and mentally. They need the stamina to be |
| they are brought to the surface, and any not | | | | able to work in dangerous conditions, while |
| meeting the regulation requirements are | | | | being self-disciplined and alert to their |
| thrown back. The king crab are typically | | | | surroundings at all times. |