fisheries assistant engineer
Snapshot
Are you fascinated by marine engineering and passionate about sustainable fisheries? As a fisheries assistant engineer, you'll play a vital role in ensuring the safe and efficient operation of fishing vessels, contributing to a crucial global industry.
Fisheries assistant engineers work alongside the marine chief engineer on fishing vessels, providing essential support for the ship’s operations. Your days will involve monitoring and assisting with the maintenance of the propulsion plant, machinery, and auxiliary equipment. You’ll also contribute to safety protocols, survival procedures, and health care onboard, adhering to both national and international maritime standards. This role offers a blend of technical work, problem-solving, and a commitment to a vital industry.
- • Assist the chief engineer in routine inspections and maintenance of engines, generators, and other vital shipboard systems.
- • Monitor equipment performance and identify potential issues, contributing to preventative maintenance schedules.
- • Participate in drills and training exercises related to safety, survival, and emergency procedures.
Where this occupation is in demand
Reported labour shortages and surpluses, by year. Published for occupation groups, not for individual job titles.
Deeper colour: reported the same way in more consecutive years.
Figures cover Metal, machinery and related trades workers — 106 jobs including this one.
In shortage: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechia and 12 more.
Longest-running shortage: Austria, 4 years.
Select a place on the map to see its figures.
About this source›
Source: ELA/EURES labour shortages and surpluses. Readings are published at occupation-group level, and cover Europe. Editions differ in annex layout and country coverage, so a change between years does not always mean the labour market changed. Countries in grey were not reported, which is not the same as being in balance.
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Could fisheries assistant engineer fit you?
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Future Outlook for fisheries assistant engineer
The outlook for fisheries assistant engineer is exceptionally stable. While AI tools will assist with daily tasks, the core of this role relies on human judgment, resulting in a high resilience score of 75%.
How are these scores calculated?
The Resilience Score (0–100) estimates how structurally protected this occupation is from automation and AI disruption, based on task-level analysis. Higher scores mean more human-judgment-intensive tasks. AI Exposure shows the estimated percentage of task hours that current AI capabilities could affect. These are model-derived structural indicators, not predictions about individual job security.
How could fisheries assistant engineer change as AI adoption grows?
Human judgement, trust, and context remain strong protectors for this role.
Illustrative scenario based on task automatability — not a forecast. Values are rounded the further ahead you look.
How could fisheries assistant engineer change as AI adoption grows?
Human judgement, trust, and context remain strong protectors for this role.
Illustrative scenario based on task automatability — not a forecast. Values are rounded the further ahead you look.
How AI may change this role
Deterministic, model-based interpretation of current role signals — not a guarantee of replacement.
What still depends on people
- extinguish fires
- prevent sea pollution
- survive at sea in the event of ship abandonment
Where AI may become a co-pilot
- operate ship propulsion system
- operate ship rescue machinery
- use maritime English
Tasks most exposed to automation
No single task here is highly automatable yet.
Vital Signs & AI Vectors
AI Exposure Vectors
0-100%Exposure to content generation, creative augmentation, and large language model tools
Exposure to physical automation, robotics, and sensor-driven task displacement
Exposure to workflow automation, decision-support software, and process digitisation
Exposure to AI-assisted analysis, pattern recognition, and predictive modelling tasks
Technical Details
NexFuture v3.0 estimates automation exposure natively from ESCO essential-skill groups, weighted by skill mass and calibrated against expert anchors. Scores are probabilistic estimates, not guarantees. See the NexFuture Methodology White Paper for full details.
Measures automation exposure. It does not measure pay, demand, or how many jobs exist near you.
What people in this role usually do
Supply Chain & Transportation
A typical day as a fisheries assistant engineer
09 09:00 · Morning manage ship emergency plans
10 10:30 · Mid-morning operate ship propulsion system
12 12:00 · Midday prevent sea pollution
14 14:00 · Afternoon coordinate fire fighting
15 15:30 · Late afternoon operate ship rescue machinery
17 17:00 · Wrap-up extinguish fires
Task order is illustrative. Individual days vary.
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fisheries legislation
The study and analysis of different fisheries management approaches taking into account international treaties and industry norms in order to analyze fisheries management regulations.
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fishing vessels
Denomination of the different elements and equipment of fishing vessels.
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international regulations for preventing collisions at sea
Fundamental aspects of the international regulations to prevent collisions at sea, such as the conduct of vessels in sight of one another, navigation lights and markers, major light and accoustic signals, maritime signalling and buoys.
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risks associated with undertaking fishing operations
General risks occuring when working on fishing boats and specific risks occurring only in some fishing modalities. Prevention of threats and accidents.
- International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships
- pollution prevention
- assessment of risks and threats
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extinguish fires
Choose the adequate substances and methods to extinguish fires depending on their size, such as water and various chemical agents. Use a breathing apparatus.
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prevent sea pollution
Organize and monitor environment protection applying the regulations for pollution prevention at sea.
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coordinate fire fighting
Organize and direct the operations of fire fighting, according to the ship's emergency plans to ensure safety.
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manage ship emergency plans
Organize and manage emergency operations, flooding, abandoning ship, survival at sea, search and rescue of shipwrecked, according to the ship's emergency plans, to ensure the safety
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survive at sea in the event of ship abandonment
Identify muster signals and what emergencies they signal. Comply with established procedures. Don and use a lifejacket or an immersion suit. Safely jump into the water from a height. Swim and right an inverted liferaft while wearing a swim while wearing a lifejacket. Keep afloat without a lifejacket. Board a survival craft from the ship, or from the water while wearing a lifejacket. Take initial actions on boarding survival craft to enhance chance of survival. Stream a drogue or sea-anchor. Operate survival craft equipment. Operate location devices, including radio equipment.
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use maritime English
Communicate in English employing language used in actual situations on board ships, in ports and elsewhere in the shipping chain.
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operate ship propulsion system
Perform start-up and subsequent observation of the working parameters of the ship's propulsion system. Check the operating parameters of electric generators in the switchboard, power sources and electrical and electronic equipment and navigation lights. Verify that the operating parameters of pneumatic and hydraulic systems are within the values. Perform simple maintenance procedures, repair and replacement of damaged items.
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operate ship rescue machinery
Operate rescue boats and survival craft. Launch the boats as required and operate their equipment. Take care of survivors and survival craft after abandoning ship. Use electronic devices to track and communicate location, including communications and signalling apparatus and pyrotechnics.
Skill DNA
Work personality traits and values that define this role
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Where does fisheries assistant engineer fit?
Similarity scores based on skill overlap from ESCO data.
Frequently asked questions
- What kind of training or qualifications are typically needed to become a fisheries assistant engineer?
- While specific requirements can vary, a strong foundation in mechanical or marine engineering is usually essential. Relevant vocational training, associate degrees, or a bachelor’s degree in a related field are common pathways. Practical experience, potentially through internships or cadetships, is also highly valued.
- What are the working conditions like for a fisheries assistant engineer?
- This role involves working onboard fishing vessels, which can mean extended periods at sea. Working conditions can be demanding, with potential exposure to harsh weather and the need to work in confined spaces. However, it also offers unique opportunities for travel and a close-knit team environment.
- How does this role contribute to the sustainability of fisheries?
- By ensuring the efficient and reliable operation of the vessel’s machinery, fisheries assistant engineers contribute to minimizing fuel consumption and reducing the environmental impact of fishing operations. They also play a role in adhering to regulations designed to protect marine ecosystems and ensure sustainable fishing practices.
- Fisheries Assistant Engineer — is there a shortage in Europe?
- Yes. In the 2025 ELA/EURES edition, a shortage was reported in 16 of the 19 European countries that assessed this occupation group: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechia and 12 more. Austria has reported one for 4 consecutive years. These assessments are published per occupation group rather than per job title.
- Fisheries Assistant Engineer — what does it pay in the United States?
- $101,320 a year at the median, as of 2025-05. State medians run from $40,080 to $133,640. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is a United States figure and not a projection for Europe.