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hey i'm just finishing up a science degree, with a major in marine biology. From what i know in Australia, the field is becomming more popular and more jobs are opening up. However it is a very competitive field and hard to find a job. But you can go on to work in zoos and aquariums dealing with marine mammals and fishy things. Also positions in universities, working on islands doing research, working with dive centres, tour operators and on resorts (being guides - eg. reef walking guides) are all areas you can go into. Not to mention governement organisations eg. fisheries department. At least give it a go - working a great job is (for some) far more rewarding than a large pay packet. good luck!

I'll tell you in 4 years when I'm done my major in it.:%)

But yeah, there are very few actual marine biologists in the world. Apparently there are many people that major in marine biology but don't wind up in the field as a scientist, doing something else like... owning a fish store.

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The aquarist is one who must learn the ways of the biologist, the chemist, and the veterinarian.

I took a GiftednTalented program at my school (till they cut it from the budget...) and in 7th grade, got to explore Marine Biology.

Let me tell you...even though I was a 7th grader, I learned and had SO much fun in that course, I can't even tell you. We went seining, got to ID a whole bunch of things, I only wish that I had started already started fish keeping that year. It wasn't until a couple months after it ended that I got interested in fish. >.<

I'm sure a college course would be a little different from a MS GNT program, but I say go for it if it interests you, I would kill to take the program again.

-Formerly known as the Ferretfish

Its a very difficult field to get into, from what I understand.

There is a more applied version at my university called fisheries. I'm thinking about minoring in it ... wouldn't be many extra courses either...

If you want to open an LFS, I suggest that you at least minor in business.

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Hi there peoples, some of you may have seen my post about thinking of opening my own LFS within about 5 yrs!?
Well change of plan, as i have learned so much since taking up the hobby and enjoying it so much i am now thinking of going to university to study 'marine biology'
Just wondering if anyone out there has done this/similar course before and how beneficial it was to them? Any feedback would be more than welcome.

SW Pics: http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/dave_slade@btinternet.com/
Saltwater tank 125G-30G sump with caulerpa refugium.
yellow tang, atlantic anemone, 11 turbo snails, 4 nassarius snails, 12 various hermits, 3 cleaner shrimp, 2 occelaris clown, yellow

thanks for the advice, i have done a 2 year diploma in computing and am quite conversant with all electronics! hope that is a good tool for my box!

SW Pics: http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/dave_slade@btinternet.com/
Saltwater tank 125G-30G sump with caulerpa refugium.
yellow tang, atlantic anemone, 11 turbo snails, 4 nassarius snails, 12 various hermits, 3 cleaner shrimp, 2 occelaris clown, yellow

Here's a few ideas. Note the pay of the first, which is pretty good, imho. Better than I expected to see. Sorry I don't know how much it is in British currency.

Jobs Link

My advice is to follow your heart and dreams, know that you must start low and do the menial jobs (note the "Ranking Factors" for the first job in the link above). Just working in a fish store helps you to gain experience. Volunteering at a local zoo, if they can't pay, is a way to get experience. It's something you can claim as substance and time.

That one really boring job you did at some fish store or aquarium, may be the one thing that gave you a boost in a later job. Statistics may seem boring, but if you read job descriptions regular, you'll see what they are looking for in marine biologists.

Some get a degree and want top dollar right off the bat. Look for ways to round yourself out in many different ways within the field. In time, that grand-daddy job may open up to you and you'll be well qualified with all the various things you've done. It's like filling a toolbox, one tool at a time.

One other piece of advice is to consider a dual degree of some type. For example, mechanical engineering would highly compliment marine biology. With such dual backgrounds, you would be capable of developing great things for the aquatic world. Also note in that jobs link and in the list of their "Ranking Factors" for hiring, they include the knowledge of operating systems. If you don't include engineering, at least make yourself mechanically inclined and "nosey" about the systems running all of the tanks in large bodies.

Here's another sample:

http://jobsearch.monster.com/getjob.asp?JobID=26176996&amp;AVSDM=2005%2D01%2D10+13%3A29%3A43&amp;Logo=1&amp;q=marine+biology&amp;sort=rv&amp;vw=b&amp;cy=US&amp;brd=1,1862,1863

Best wishes and keep us updated.



Last edited by Cory_Di at 25-Feb-2005 19:46

decided now maybe to take the part time route! commitments being as they are!

SW Pics: http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/dave_slade@btinternet.com/
Saltwater tank 125G-30G sump with caulerpa refugium.
yellow tang, atlantic anemone, 11 turbo snails, 4 nassarius snails, 12 various hermits, 3 cleaner shrimp, 2 occelaris clown, yellow

Thanks misty, it's a long way off though. 4 years hard slog before i become qualified (if i manage it!) but i really can't wait to see what happens at the end of it when i have chosen what area i want to go into!

EDIT: Bad spelling again!

Last edited by daveuk at 16-Feb-2005 11:53

SW Pics: http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/dave_slade@btinternet.com/
Saltwater tank 125G-30G sump with caulerpa refugium.
yellow tang, atlantic anemone, 11 turbo snails, 4 nassarius snails, 12 various hermits, 3 cleaner shrimp, 2 occelaris clown, yellow

Marine Biologists don`t get payed that much really. Can be very interesting jobs but may not be best if you want money.

Thanks frank, sounds like you love your career! that is how i want to feel about mine too! dakafall that sounds sooooooo cool and i would love to be able to go diving all day collecting fishy friends!


SW Pics: http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/dave_slade@btinternet.com/
Saltwater tank 125G-30G sump with caulerpa refugium.
yellow tang, atlantic anemone, 11 turbo snails, 4 nassarius snails, 12 various hermits, 3 cleaner shrimp, 2 occelaris clown, yellow

i say go 4 it if you really want 2, my dad's friend, his son has a major in ichthyology, he lives down in New Orleans, and they have a huge lab w/ tons of tanks in it, and he loves it, (so do i ) we're going down around april for a meeting 4 dads work while i getta tour the entire lab and get basically a behind the scenes tour
and as part of his job involves basically sitting out on a boat all day getting new specimens sounds pretty fun 2 me
the only part is i won't be able to dive w/ them
(not certified yet )

Daka&lt;&lt;&lt;&lt;

Hi,
Personally, I would pursue the career that you are most
interested in. The year I graduated TIME Magazine ran
their annual "what the graduating class of xx could expect
to make" article. Computer folks depending upon their
expertise could expect to start at 50-70K/year.
Geologists (me) IF they could find a job, could expect
to MAYBE make 16K/year...

BUT I love playing in the dirt, and with rocks
(my wife simply says I never grew up).

Frank



-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

I nearly did, but then I became a herpetologist.

Actually, I had an employee at an LFS that I managed that had a master's degree in marine biology and was also a reefer....he was an invaluable employee and then some.

Luckily i come from a family with strong links to the sea so i'm good with boats! I have to do a foundation year before i can begin my course which will definitely help to make my mind up if i am doing the right thing

SW Pics: http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/dave_slade@btinternet.com/
Saltwater tank 125G-30G sump with caulerpa refugium.
yellow tang, atlantic anemone, 11 turbo snails, 4 nassarius snails, 12 various hermits, 3 cleaner shrimp, 2 occelaris clown, yellow

From what i've heard of Marine Biology in as a carrer, about 95% take low pay, 4% get OK to good pay, and that lucky 1% get great pay.

Hi,
I hope you don't get too sea sick easily...

I had a friend who was confined to a wheelchair who
got his doctorate in Marine Biology. If you set your
mind to it, you can do it.

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

At the moment the work i do isn't that well payed anyhow, and money would be secondary to a career that keeps me happy! Thanks for the replies so far, anything else i should know?

SW Pics: http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/dave_slade@btinternet.com/
Saltwater tank 125G-30G sump with caulerpa refugium.
yellow tang, atlantic anemone, 11 turbo snails, 4 nassarius snails, 12 various hermits, 3 cleaner shrimp, 2 occelaris clown, yellow