What you need to perform it
Primary qualification
- Professional Patrón Local de Pesca certificate (RD 36/2014, art. 9)
- Aptitude examination on the subjects of annex II of RD 36/2014 (deck and engine), prepared at the regional fishing schools — no VET academic diploma required
Basic STCW
- Basic Safety Training (maritime specialty certificate)
- Psychophysical fitness: CRC form or medical certificate under art. 13 RD 36/2014
Specific courses
- Initial specific medical training and radio operator certificate by area (indicative, to be verified)
- Marinero Pescador certificate for the prior sea-service period (indicative)
Indicative experience
Minimum age of 18 and 18 months of sea service on fishing vessels or fishing/aquaculture support vessels: at least 6 months in the deck section after passing the aptitude examination; the remaining 12 may be earlier, with at least 6 in the engine watch (art. 9.1 RD 36/2014).
Observations
Spanish fishing ladder (RD 36/2014): Fishing Captain > Patrón de Altura > Patrón de Litoral > Patrón Costero Polivalente > Patrón Local de Pesca. It is the entry step to command: the usual route continues with the Patrón Costero Polivalente (annex I examination) and, via the intermediate VET diploma in coastal navigation and fishing, with the Patrón de Litoral. In practice many holders are small-scale-gear owner-skippers working day trips.
What this role does
Fifth and first command grade of the Spanish fishing ladder (RD 36/2014, art. 9), designed for the artisanal and local fleet: the holder commands the fishing vessel while running its engine on vessels up to 16 m LOA and 140 kW within 12 miles. It is obtained by aptitude examination (annex II subjects) plus 18 months of sea service, with no VET academic diploma. It is the typical profile of the small-scale-gear owner-skipper. With further sea service and the annex I examination it leads naturally to the Patrón Costero Polivalente.
Typical watches
- Daily or single-day trips, conditioned by the fish market and sea state
Key responsibilities
- Command the fishing vessel and simultaneously run its engine on vessels up to 16 m and 140 kW within 12 miles.
- Plan local and artisanal fishing trips (small-scale gear, purse seine, shellfishing from a boat) and the fish-market sale.
- Serve as chief engineer on fishing vessels up to 250 kW or chief mate on fishing vessels under 24 m up to 60 miles.
Operational scope
- Skipper and chief engineer simultaneously on fishing vessels ≤ 16 m LOA and ≤ 140 kW, up to 12 miles off the straight baselines (art. 9.2 RD 36/2014); inter-island extension in the Balearic and Canary Islands (indicative, to be verified)
- Chief mate on fishing vessels < 24 m LOA up to 60 miles; chief engineer on fishing vessels up to 250 kW
Profile reviewed by HydroAbyss (2026). Cited rules and timeframes are indicative: the final requirement is set by the flag State, the Administration and each company.