What does a seafood processor do?
Seafood processors are employees tasked with the job of processing and refining raw materials to finished goods. They sort, tend and operate relative machinery related to the processing plant as well as cleaning working space to ensure hygiene. The duties and responsibilities include issuing guidance and drills in case of emergencies and weighing and packaging market-ready goods.
Seafood processor responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real seafood processor resumes:
- Utilize CMMS system to address and make equipment changes to improve equipment operational uptime and minimize equipment downtime.
- Work in the case-up department.
- Clean machinery to FDA regulations.
- Review workspace for cleanliness and safety.
- Maintain and operate according to GMP's.
- Revise multiple HACCP plans to meet regulatory compliance.
- Make decisions to troubleshoot issues and emergency situations.
- Process fish and work on filet line in remote location.
- Clean station as told by supervisor or when fish run out.
- Process and inspect daily harvest of Alaskan king crabs on board the fishing vessel.
- Charge and operate chemical processes and systems through panel board watching, reaction and distillation procedures.
- Operate various equipment such as centrifuges, boilers, and forklifts for packaging products for shipment.
- Perform duties require for processing fish for retail sale including gut, clean, and freezer prep.
- Bag 50-70 pound bags fish meal and clean and sanitize fish meal department including gut tank and factory.
- Maintain cleanliness of processing facility.
Seafood processor skills and personality traits
We calculated that 21% of Seafood Processors are proficient in Cleanliness, Processing Equipment, and Gut. They’re also known for soft skills such as Dexterity, Physical strength, and Ability to use technology.
We break down the percentage of Seafood Processors that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Cleanliness, 21%
Maintained cleanliness of processing facility.
- Processing Equipment, 20%
Load materials and products into package processing equipment.
- Gut, 17%
Bagged 50-70 pound bags fish meal and cleaned and sanitized fish meal department including gut tank and factory.
- Processing Plant, 9%
Worked in the assembly and production of seafood products and in processing plants in Alaska.
- Food Products, 6%
Stacked and loaded/unloaded seafood products in the freezer in a fast paced and timely manner.
- Places Product, 6%
Segregated product on conveyor belt and places product in containers.
Most seafood processors use their skills in "cleanliness," "processing equipment," and "gut" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential seafood processor responsibilities here:
The three companies that hire the most seafood processors are:
- North Coast Seafoods8 seafood processors jobs
- Pacific Choice Seafood7 seafood processors jobs
- Ocean Beauty Seafoods4 seafood processors jobs
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Seafood processor vs. Poultry trimmer
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a seafood processor are more likely to require skills like "cleanliness," "processing equipment," "gut," and "processing plant." On the other hand, a job as a poultry trimmer requires skills like "production operations," "premier customer service," "usda," and "on-time completion." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Poultry trimmers earn the highest salaries when working in the manufacturing industry, with an average yearly salary of $23,784. On the other hand, seafood processors are paid more in the manufacturing industry with an average salary of $24,572.On average, poultry trimmers reach similar levels of education than seafood processors. Poultry trimmers are 1.8% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.3% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Seafood processor vs. Fish cutter
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that seafood processor responsibilities requires skills like "cleanliness," "processing equipment," "gut," and "processing plant." But a fish cutter might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "seal containers," "customer specifications," "tag containers," and "fish products."
Fish cutters may earn a higher salary than seafood processors, but fish cutters earn the most pay in the agriculture industry with an average salary of $24,542. On the other hand, seafood processors receive higher pay in the manufacturing industry, where they earn an average salary of $24,572.In general, fish cutters achieve similar levels of education than seafood processors. They're 1.8% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.3% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Seafood processor vs. Ham trimmer
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a seafood processor is likely to be skilled in "cleanliness," "processing equipment," "gut," and "processing plant," while a typical ham trimmer is skilled in "line safety," "protective equipment," "punch presses," and "usda."
When it comes to education, ham trimmers tend to earn similar degree levels compared to seafood processors. In fact, they're 1.8% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.3% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Seafood processor vs. Gutter
Types of seafood processor
Updated January 8, 2025











