A fishery biologist works under the supervision of fishery management. This position has many characteristics. If you are interested in fishery biologist jobs, there are many requirements. The following is some useful information on the knowledge, skills, and education that will be required.
Fishery biologist jobs go through many series or levels. These are professional levels that involve many assignments. The supervisor will establish the scope, objective, priorities, timelines, methods and techniques that need to be applied. These situations will never require deviation from the plans. Routine projects specific to fishery are required. These will be designated to a specific area and need basic project design, collection, analysis, and preparation. Reporting and recommendation is a part of the first level. The fishery biologist will spend a lot of time assisting in this position.
The application of theory and related research using scientific methods is required in fishery biologist jobs. Most skills a technician will acquire are included in on-the-job training with other professionals using scientific methodologies and theories.
Many of the duties of fishery biologist jobs include, but are not limited to, assisting with the planning and coordination of logistical support to crews on the field, ensuring safety of the crew in the field, and evaluating performance of the employees. An in-season analysis will need to be performed and direct observation and analysis of fish behavior will be done. The fishery biologist will also need to meet with an advisory committee and industry groups. It is required that fishery biologists are capable of explaining regulations and programs to the general public.
Fishery biologists need to be capable of performing a lot of paperwork. It is important to know how to draft operational plans, develop sampling plans, make experimental designs, perform procedures, and complete forms to conduct specific studies. All operational plans and objectives need to maintain quality control and ensure total compliance.
Budgeting and auditing is also required with fishery biologist jobs. You will need to assist with the presentations to be brought to the Board of Fisheries, in addition to special interest group meetings.
The basic knowledge required for a fishery biologist job includes the strategies of fishery management, issues, problems, policies, procedures, statutes, regulations, and anything else that might affect the conservation, preservation, and utilization of a fishery resource or habitat. He or she should also know about statistical approaches, data analysis and evaluation, the field, and procedures in a laboratory. It is important to know how to do hypothesis testing, experimental, and how to write up scientific documentation.
A fishery biologist should possess many abilities and skills, including prioritizing to meet goals and objectives for projects, leadership skills, team work skills, traveling in a small plane, operating skiffs and vessels, using field and laboratory equipment, and effectively communicating with the public.
The minimum education requirement for fishery biologist jobs is a bachelor's degree from an accredited university in biology, oceanography, forestry, or natural resource management. If you have a bachelor's degree in another field you may take additional coursework for substitutions and qualification.
There are more people graduating with these degrees and seeking work than there is work available. The best way to secure a job in fishery biology is by obtaining a master's degree. This will make you much more valuable as an employee. Most fishery biologist jobs are located in Alaska. However, you should be prepared to live in an area on the ocean, lake, or large water mass.
The salary for fishery biologist jobs ranges significantly. A basic technician position you might work while you are going to school can pay around $20,000 annually, while a supervisory position pays closer to $80,000. The average biologist position pays around $55,000.
It is common for people who work in fishery biologist jobs to be required to stay overnight for a handful of nights each month. This may require flexibility in your lifestyle. You also may be put on a probationary period for an entire year before you can work as a standard employee.
Most fishery biologist jobs can be found in the government sector. Security investigations are also common for this line of work.
