In the first room, there is the boss's bunk, topped here with pictures of part of the Etoile fleet. Let's take advantage of this stage to put you in the atmosphere and describe the job of a sailor in deep-sea fishing.
Life on board
A trawler is first and foremost a working vessel, with seafarers on board sharing a restricted space for a more or less long period.
The days on board a trawler are punctuated by trawl strokes, known as "hauls". These hauls, which vary in length depending on the species targeted, are used by the crew to carry out their daily tasks. As soon as a trawl is put back in the water, the catches from the previous haul are sorted, gutted, washed and packaged. The crew also ensures that the fishing equipment is in good condition and clean, and that the work area is kept clean. The maintenance and possible repairs of the fishing gear are part of the work on deck, so that it is operational at all times. The tides last on average a fortnight.
Composition of a crew
The crew consists first of all of a skipper in charge of the boat. It is he who decides where to fish.
The crew of a trawler also includes a mechanic. He is an essential member of the crew for the smooth running of the boat and is responsible for maintenance. He is a specialist who ensures, through regular monitoring and maintenance, that the on-board equipment functions perfectly. The mechanic also participates in the manoeuvring of the fishing gear and the processing of the fish.
On deck, the bosco (boatswain) organises the work on board and coordinates the manoeuvres. He participates alongside the deckhands in the launching (spinning) of the fishing gear and its reassembly on board (turning), as well as in the processing of the catch. He is responsible for the packaging of the fish products and their arrangement in the hold. He also monitors the quality of the products caught.
The deckhands are involved in all the day-to-day tasks on board. Operating and repairing fishing gear, sorting, gutting, maintaining and cleaning the working environment, preparing meals.
The job of a sailor in deep-sea fishing can be summarised as follows leave the port, and go to the fishing grounds, put in the fish, store the fish in the hold, repair any damage, and finally return to port.