I've been in open seas several times fishing in various waters around the world and I can promise you, there is not a snow ball's chance in hell you could convince me to test the Bering Sea during prime crab season. There have been some pretty rough guys that have been broken down by those conditions.
one of the other foremen at work lived up there for a few years, he said getting on a crab boat is near impossible, you need lots of time and lots of dues to pay before you can get on a crew. he worked first in a cannery, then on a halibut boat
After watching last night's show it would suck to be a cod fisherman, as well. I guess the whole crew died in that one. If they weren't 600 miles away the coast guard might have been able to rescue them.