Entry Level Fish Processing Onboard Vessel Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Excellence. Innovation. Integrity. Passion.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to travel to a remote Alaskan island and live aboard a state-of-the-art fishing vessel? Do you enjoy the satisfaction of a hard day's work and thrive being a part of a close-knit team? If your answer is YES! A Fish Processor job with O'Hara may be the right gig for you!

We are currently hiring for the 2026 season!

General Description:

Employees and the vessel will be operating in extremely remote and austere locations; often days away from land or dock facilities. Fish processors move raw fish through the various factory stations using machinery and conveyors. This job includes sorting, cutting fish and removing guts, packing fish into pans, placing pans in and removing pans from freezers, removing blocks of frozen fish from the pan, bagging the blocks, then stacking bagged fish in the vessel's freezer hold. Fish processors also offload the bags of frozen fish by stacking them onto cargo nets for removal from the vessel, and backload supplies needed for the next fishing trip; this process may last longer than the regular 16.5 hours per day work schedule. Fish processors also clean and organize the factory and other areas of the vessel, and perform other duties as directed.

Processors may work in many areas of the vessel including the factory, freezer hold, deck, or on adjoining docks or vessels during offload or backload.

Essential Duties:

Fish processors must be able to:

• Operate conveyor systems to move fish through the factory.
• Learn and identify fish species.
• Sort fish as instructed.
• Run machinery to remove heads and guts from fish.
• Fill pans with fish as directed.
• Push, pull and lift pans onto and off conveyors and into/out of plate freezers.
• Operate plate freezer systems as directed.
• Remove frozen fish from pans.
• Bag, label and stack bags of frozen fish in the freezer hold.
• Perform offload by stacking frozen fish onto pallets or cargo slings.
• Clean factory and machinery as directed.

Requirements

Education and Experience:

• High school or GED diploma preferred but not required.
• No experience required; although, work experience in labor intense industries such as agriculture, farming, mining, landscaping, construction, commercial fishing, and oil field are highly preferred.
• A Real ID law compliant document will be required for employment.
• Ability to understand and have the ability to communicate in English for emergency, safety, and training purposes is required.

Physical Demands:

All employees must be able to:

• Board and exit the vessel by gangplank or Jacob's ladder without assistance.
• Board or exit a skiff without assistance in all weather conditions.
• Ascend and descend steep stairways and ladders in all temperatures.
• Work at least 16 hours per day, 7 days per week for the duration of the contract.
• Perform repetitive tasks for extended periods of time.
• Stand and walk; lift weights up to and over 50 pounds for full range from floor to above their head repeatedly.
• Use fingers, hands and arms to push, pull and reach.
• Bend and twist.
• Stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl.
• Work long hours in all kinds of weather.
• Work in a cold and wet environment.
• Don life jacket, life vest and/or survival suit without assistance.
• Must be able to pass pre-employment and random drug tests per USCG regulations.
• This job is designated by O'Hara Corporation to be Safety Sensitive, and a pre-employment drug screen is part of the hiring process.

Mental Activities:

All employees must be able to:

• Hear, understand, and follow instructions, directions, safety rules and procedures.
• Use interpersonal and teamwork skills.
• Liveandworkwithothersinclosequarters.
• Beaway frommedicalcareandsupervisionfor3+months at atime.
• Share crew quarters, bathroom facilities, and common dining areas with other crew members.
• Discern between various shades of color for identifying and sorting various fish species as well as for safety signs, alarms,and warnings.

Work Schedule:

• Fish processors work at least 16.5 hours per day, 7 days per week.
• Work hours may be extended during offload or backload which may result in uneven shifts and sleep patterns.
• Breaks are determined by the business needs of the fish processing plant.  Unplanned, unscheduled breaks are prohibited except in health or safety related incidents.

Work Environment:

• While performing the duties of this job, employees and the vessel will be operating in extremely remote and austere locations; often days away from land or dock facilities.
• While performing the duties of this job, employees are expected to wear protective clothing and equipment such as rain gear (pants and sleeves), gloves, rubber boots, noise suppression devices, and use as required: hardhat, safety goggles, fire extinguisher, respirator, life preserver and survival suit.
• Employees will be exposed to various species of fish; wet, humid and freezing conditions; fish processing equipment such as headers, movable and stationary conveyor systems, knives, hoists, pressure washers, cleaning chemicals, shovels, buckets, baskets and aluminum pans.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually loud. Employees work onboard a vessel in the ocean which by nature produces varying degrees of motion in the factory.

Benefits

• Medical, vision and dental insurance is offered to employees and qualified dependents, if elected.
• 401(k) with employer match after one year of employment, if elected.
• Meals, snacks, and beverages provided including diverse cuisine options while at sea. (Additional at-sea store available for specialty items to purchase and have deducted from paycheck)
• O'Hara will book and pre-pay flight and lodging from Point of Hire- Seattle, WA to Dutch Harbor, AK.
• Career advancement opportunities! Many get their start as Fish Processors and move their way up to Combi's, Deckhands, Foreman, Cooks, and more!

Compensation

• Crew-share compensation ($15K-$30K for 75 days at sea on average)
• Opportunity to increase crew share earnings as employee gains experience and receives positive performance evaluations.

O'Hara Corporation provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristics protected by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.