Marine biologist

You would study ocean animals, plants and ecosystems to increase our knowledge and understanding of the environment, genetics, and animal or plant biology.

The ocean covers more than 70% of the Earth’s surface and is the habitat of 230,000 known species, although much of the ocean’s depths remain unexplored. There's also a huge variety of habitats where marine organisms live, from the very deep ocean, to shallow and brackish estuaries and marshes.

Marine life is a very wide field to work in. You could choose to study microscopic organisms such as plankton or huge cetaceans - whales. Your work could include studying fish, mammals, birds, reptiles and invertebrates that rely on the ocean to survive. Or you could focus on the ocean’s plants, algae, fungi or coral.

In your role you could:

• work on research projects to observe and better understand ocean animals, plants and ecosystems

• do work to protect and conserve sealife or to develop and manage marine resources

• get involved in conservation and sustainable management of fish stocks or the marine environment

• write up and publish the findings from your research

• present your findings at conferences or teach at a university

Green job 

In this job you'll be doing work to help the environment. Find out more about green jobs.

• Science Career Pathways - Introduction to science careers from Cogent, the skills body for science industries

• Scottish Association for Marine Science

• Natural Environment Research Council

• National Oceanography Centre - Education and academic studies

• Marine Biological Association - learning resources

• Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology - Careers information from international bod for marine professionals