Deadliest Catch’ Star Discusses 20th Season: ‘It’s About Work Ethic … That Earns Respect

Sig Hansen reflected ahead of Season 20 of the popular reality series “Deadliest Catch.”

The 58-year-old Norwegian-American sea captain spoke with Fox News Digital about some of the challenges he faced over the years, including extremely dangerous conditions and being powerless against the forces of nature.

“Deadliest Catch” premiered on the Discovery Channel in April 2005. The reality show depicts the dangers that crab fishermen experience on the Bering Sea during the Alaskan king crab and snow crab fishing seasons.

When asked about challenges the crew faced, Hansen said it all came down to one major factor.

“I mean, there’s always a challenge. The challenge is to succeed, right?” the sea captain told Fox News. “There are life-threatening situations – been in a few of those. I think the biggest challenge is always the weather. That’s always a big one, and keeping your guys motivated, that’s always a big challenge.”

“You know, and finding crab. It’ll happen, it just takes time, but it’ll happen. Especially if you’re good and you know what you’re doing,” Hansen continued.

The reality star also spoke about life-threatening situations over the years.

“We’ve had events where the boat was icing down to the point where I thought there was no return. We’ve had struggles with mechanical issues where, you know, we’ve had, like, tanks where our crab tanks either fill with water when they’re not supposed to, and that creates instability on the boat. Things of that nature,” he told the outlet.

He went on, “There’s been many challenges and there were challenges where I’ve seen boats literally go down. You know, eight miles away from me, and there’s nothing I can do about it,” he continued. “You watch people and friends that you know, and you’re literally in the fog. They’re right over there and there’s nothing I can do about it, and they’re gone.”

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As for why this show has been popular so long while so many others have failed, Hansen said he believes viewers are drawn to the hard work involved.

“Number one, it’s blue collar and there’s a work ethic and I think people respect that. I think the show’s successful because, through time, the photography’s better, the cameras are better, the people that record what we do are better, and I think that it shows,” Hansen told Fox News. “My wife and I watch what they film, and she just can’t believe it. She’s like, ‘Oh my God, I feel like I’m in it.’”

“Twenty years ago, that was not the case,” he continued. “So, I think it brings you closer; it brings you into our living room, and I think it’s successful because it’s multi-generational. Grandma, grandpa watches, grandson, granddaughter. It’s just multi-generational, and I’ve said it before: This was not meant to be a family program. We do have foul language. We do horrible things that should not be done, and families watch it together. It ain’t a family program, but that’s what it turned out to be.”

Season 20 of “Deadliest Catch” debuts on June 11.

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