Paul Bagnato
Fisherman
"Imagine yourself 100 miles into the bush, with no petrol stations, no hospitals, no one near and no assistance. When a crisis occurs, you've got no one to help you, except yourself, and all you've got to rely on is your experience." Paul Bagnato is a fisherman, and, out to sea, all he has to rely on is his experience.
Paul wakes up at 2am, and heads out to sea for anywhere between 24 hours, up to 48. As a fisherman, he doesn’t just catch fish and return to the Fish Markets to have it auctioned off, he also repairs his boat, the engine and nets. In fact, being a fisherman is such a full-time job, that the only time he gets to sleep is when it’s bad weather!
Pau has been born and bred a fisherman, his knowledge gained from working with his father.
The techniques these days for catching fish no longer rely on landmarks – but using radar, GPS, depth radar and other electronic equipment.
He loves the challenges of the work every day. “The work is 80% practical and 20% theory. You’re in mother nature’s hands, and need to get the skills first-hand to see what it’s like. ”
However, there isn’t the rewards and recognition there once was. Paul believes this is due to lack of community communication, the small numbers of fishermen and the poor effort on the part of the government to actively recruit and support new fisherman.
Paul predicts that in the next decade or two, that there will be no professional fishermen, if things keep going the way they are. And, as a provider of food which 90% of people in the world eat, this industry is entering dire straits.
However, this hasn’t curbed his enthusiasm for fishing, “You need to love hard work, and the challenge of a new day,” and Paul now actively recruits young people to enter the industry. This year, he’s been selected to participate in the 2008 National Seafood Industry Leadership Program. “I am concerned about the next generation of fishermen,” says Paul, to the Sydney Fish Market. “There is no-one stepping up to take my place.”
So what’s life like on the sea? “It is working in tranquillity, where every day is a challenge, but everyone is their own person, and because people are existing on there own real skills, there is no artificiality.”
Advice for people entering the industry?
Dedicate yourself 100%.
In order to train to be a fisherman, you need a passion for the sea, get on a boat – not one with a fisherman who’s been in the business under 5 years, you want one who’s been fishing for over 10 years. It’s then your responsibility to learn all the skills of the trade. You don’t want to train with someone who’s after a quick dollar; they won’t respect the resource, and they won’t teach thoroughly, because they’re not in it for the long run.
What personal qualities are needed for the job?
The personal qualities needed for the job include being hardworking, you have to love the sea, and love the challenges that occur on a daily basis. You need to grow into fishing from a young age, like around 14 or 15, whereas it would be much harder to retrain later in life.
The hardest part of the job?
‘How am I going to outsmart the other boat to catch the most?’ You want to be the best you can be.
The best part of the job?
It’s like being in the wilderness, like deep in the bush, there is no congestion, do your own thing at your own pace – just at sea. You rely on your own capabilities.
