The fishing industry, including three major seafood processors, fishing boats, and marine repairs services and sales, is the largest employer in Petersburg. The USDA Forest Service, the State, the City, and the small businesses and stores also employ a significant number of people. One resource for information about jobs in Petersburg is the State of Alaska's Alaska Job Center Network (http://www.jobs.state.ak.us/).

Petersburg Pilot, the local weekly newspaper, also carries employment advertisements.

Fish Jobs in Petersburg Alaska
The seafood processors in Petersburg employ about 1,000 people each season. The main season for seafood processing and fishing employment is mid-June through early September. There are three main ways to get work in Seafood Processing: call the seafood processors; visit their web sites; and check with the Job Services Center in Petersburg. Each processor is different, but for a good overview of working in a cannery see Icicle Seafood's web page on working in Petersburg, Alaska.

Housing
Several of the canneries have bunkhouses for some of their employees. Call them for information. Camping and short term rentals can be very difficult and expensive in Petersburg. It is very important to have a job and housing arranged before you arrive, or to come just before the peak of a processing season.

Cannery Employment:

PFI (Petersburg Fisheries, Inc)
(http://www.icicleseafoods.com/locations/ptg/)
Processes seafood most of the year - (907-772-4294) Work information - call 772-3030; PFI hires the majority of their seasonal workforce before the summer season begins, see their web page to apply online or call for an application.

Norquest
(http://www.norquest.com/emp/petersburg.htm)
Processes seafood most of the year (907-772-3333) Work information: write Box 209, Petersburg, 99833 for an application; or contact Petersburg Job Service.

Ocean Beauty
Mainly processes in the summer.
(http://www.oceanbeauty.com/employment/prod_petersburg.htm)
(907-772-4242)

Northern Lights Smokery, Tonka Seafoods and Coastal Cold Storage do custom processing of seafood. They occasionally need a few workers.

Working on Fishing Boats
It is not impossible to find work on a fishing boat, but it can very difficult. Most boats are privately owned and are crewed by the skippers, their families, and friends who have years of experience. However, people do walk the docks and sometimes succeed at getting a job on a fishing vessel.

Because working at sea can be extremely hazardous, especially for those new to fishing, take time to learn about fishing safety. It is also a very good idea to talk to experienced fishermen and take the time to read Beating the Odds on the North Pacific: A Guide to Fishing Safety (Marine Advisory Bulletin No. 41 2002). http://www.uaf.edu/seagrant/Pubs_Videos/pubs/MAB-41.html)