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