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Marine Biologist - Job outlook

Kaimātai Koiora Moana

What are the chances of getting a job?

Job opportunities for marine biologists have grown steadily in the past few years, although they may be affected in the short term by the tight economic situation.

Long-term outlook for marine biologists good

Government funding for environmental research has increased in the past few years, creating more job opportunities for marine biologists. Although funding levels for research are still low in New Zealand when compared with other developed countries, these are likely to grow in the longer term, as environmental issues become more pressing.

The number of job vacancies that come up every year is not very high. However, chances of getting a job are generally good because most graduates move overseas, where they can get wider experience and more specialised work opportunities.

Better job opportunities for marine biologists with experience in toxicology, aquaculture or population modelling

Marine biologists with skills in the following areas are likely to have the best chances of finding work:

Toxicology – needed to help assess levels of toxic waste in rivers and seas.
Aquaculture – needed to develop techniques to improve productivity on marine farms. Aquaculture is New Zealand's fastest-growing seafood sector, with the Government aiming to triple the sector's size by 2025.
Population modelling – needed to help work out how animal populations are likely to change according to environmental conditions. For example, showing how different fishing levels could affect the tuna population.

"There has been a steady increase in the numbers of marine ecologists we employ. There is a lot of scope for people with a passion for the area and the right skills, especially for people with biological and ecological skills married with maths."

Alison MacDiarmid - Marine Ecologist, NIWA

What types of employers can I work for?

Employers of marine biologists include:

Crown research institutes (CRIs) such as NIWA, the largest employer of marine biologists
universities
government agencies such as the Ministry of Fisheries and the Department of Conservation
regional councils
private companies
Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA)
Fish and Game New Zealand
the Cawthron Institute, a community-owned research centre.

"I’ve been teaching for many years now, and the number of graduates I’ve taught will be in the hundreds. Most of these people have found meaningful employment within the marine area, including at NIWA and regional councils."

Mike Barker - Marine Scientist & Associate Professor, Otago University

Where can I do this job?

Most CRIs, government departments and universities are based in cities. For instance, NIWA, the largest employer of marine biologists, has regional offices in Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, Nelson, Christchurch and Lauder (Central Otago).

However, there are jobs at the technician level in smaller centres throughout New Zealand, working at monitoring stations by rivers and measuring river flows.

If you specialise in aquaculture, you could work in the Marlborough Sounds, as about 80% of New Zealand’s aquaculture exports come from there. Other key areas include: