Fishery biologists study fish populations, ecosystems and how people can maintain these resources. Some work in fields that contribute to the growing knowledge of fish and habitats while others choose careers focused on managing and conserving fish populations. Salaries for different jobs vary depending on education and experience. However,according to the University of California, Davis, entry-level pay for a fishery biologist with a master's degree is around $50,000.
Fishery biologists work for local, state and federal agencies assessing the size and health of fresh and salt water fish populations. They monitor the effects of commercial and recreational fishing, waterfront development and habitat degradation on fish populations and design plans to rebuild and protect fish stocks. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2010, the median salary of fishery biologists was $57,000. A 2013 job posting from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Forest Service advises applicants that entry-level salaries are set by government pay schedules and are approximately $33,000 a year.
Some fishery biologists chose academic careers at colleges and universities, where they teach and pursue research on everything from the anatomy and physiology of different species of fish to how climate change affects migratory patterns of different species. These jobs require advanced degrees and experience. According to the BLS, the 2010 median pay for post-secondary teachers was $62,000.
Aquaculture,or fish farming, is a growing industry in the early 21st century that hopes to ease the burden on wild fish populations by meeting the market demand for seafood through cultivation. Fishery biologists oversee hatcheries,fish pens,harvesting systems and other components of an aquaculture system.They monitor the growth, health and quality of fish and track how the aquaculture system affects the surrounding ecosystem. In some cases, aquaculture is used as a method to replenish natural fish stocks, and fishery biologists oversee that process. In 2013, the North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission offered a salary range of $34,000 to $54,000 for a fishery biologist to oversee a shellfish aquaculture program.
Fish biologists with experience in genetics, fish health and behavior are finding new opportunities in fisheries forensics. Biologists use their expertise to determine if fish has been harvested according to existing regulations on size, weight, age and sex. Autopsies can reveal if a fish was caught by individuals using illegal gear. Fraud has been a chronic problem in the seafood industry where dealers substitute cheaper types of fish for high-priced fillets. Fish forensics analysts can conduct DNA tests on small samples of fish to determine if consumers are getting what they are paying for. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services, junior scientists with a bachelor's degree in fishery biology earn 2013 entry-level salaries of around $33,000, while biologists with advanced degrees and experience are on a pay scale that ranges from $71,000 to $93,000.
- University of California: Careers in Fish Biology
- USDA Forest Service: Fish Biologist
- U.S. Office of Personnel Management: Salary Table 2013-GS
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook: Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook: Postsecondary Teachers
- University of Georgia: Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources - Conservation Aquaculture Center Biologist I
- U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service: Careers in Forensics
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: Fish, Fraud, and Forensics: NOAA’s Forensic Analysts Safeguard Our Seafood Supply and Defend Protected Species
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