Berufsentwicklung in der deutschen Hochseefischerei. T. 1, Deckspersonal

Abstract

"Ever since the existence of deep-sea fishing under the German flag there have been repeated efforts to establish the occupation of the deep-sea fisherman as one requiring specialised training. Yet only during the Nazi era and that of the German Democratic Republic were these attempts crowned with success. As is illustrated by the two examples presented here, the non-existence of systematic vocational training in this field is not due to a lack of its necessity but rather to the fact that, particularly in times of labour scarcity, the shipping companies have never been interested in such training if they had the opportunity of finding employees elsewhere. ln periods of centralist, statist political systems, which intensively promoted the fishing industry and set up the fleets on the basis of political will rather than economic orientation, this one-sided interest of the shipping companies was not a factor. In interviews, former crew members have repeatedly expressed the point of view that the kind of vocational training practised in Germany before 1939 or in the Federal Republic of Germany since the end of the war- i.e. pure practical instruction on board - provides a solid basis for the everyday work on the deck of a deep-sea fishing vessel. Yet on the other hand, those who had obtained their training during the Nazi regime or received some form of instruction in coastal fishing were at a distinct advantage on board, being quickly selected for better jobs, for example net- making. In general, the comprehensive introduction of systematic vocational training for deep-sea fishing deck personnel would certainly have been welcome. But without the kind of legal initiative present, for example, in the German Democratic Republic, this aim could never be achieved. As it is, an ordinary seaman can sign onto a fishing vessel; entry into nautical college in order to qualify as an officer or captain is not dependent upon successful completion of training but merely upon time accumulated at sea. Thus there is no motivation for undergoing methodical instruction, particularly in view of the fact that doing so would cause a considerable reduction in earnings during the initial years of employment. The subject of vocational training in the deep-sea fishing industry has thus remained a direct reflection of the socioeconomic importance of this field in each of the respective political systems in Germany. ln times of economic orientation such training was non-existent and there was no legally established minimum qualification level. During eras of centralised economies, deep-sea fishing was a government priority and thus always accompanied by systematic vocational training for its deck personnel." (author's abstract)