Extreme fishermen

Synopsis

Fishing is considered one the most dangerous professions in the world. But certain deep-sea fishermen choose to go even further. But what is it that drives these people to brave the fury of the oceans and the violence of the job? The lure of profit? The risk? The chance to hit the jack? Or simply their love of the sea? In the company of teams assembled from the four corners of the globe, we have shared the fears, joys and dangers of a way of life which often puts them far outside the limits of what might already seem insane to the rest of us. In Alaska, a spectacular fishing expedition brings together the cream of teams from the American West Coast. In just a few hours, the mariners must fill their holds with the biggest haul of herring possible, their eggs destined for the gild edged fish markets of Japan. In the Strait of Magellan, three Chilean fishermen roam the icy waters in their miniscule craft. In appalling weather conditions, they search the depths for sea urchins. The Pacific Ocean, at the extreme south of New Zealand, is the location for trap fishing. Severely regulated, terribly dangerous but extremely well paid, the mariners here know full well that the slightest breakdown or the smallest mistake could see them smashed onto the volcanic reefs where the their prized catch of langoustines are found. In the North Sea for 300 days of the year, an enormous French factory-ship tracks great shoals of herring and mackerel. 20 sailors from Fécamp and Saint-Malo operate this floating machine on a deck of cables and chains or in a hold as cold as -30°C without a break, or even a guarantee of what they will take home; they are paid for only as much as they can catch.