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Fisheries Scientist
Studies fish populations and aquatic ecosystems to ensure sustainable fishing and healthy oceans.
Did you know?
In 1992 Canada banned cod fishing off Newfoundland after northern cod fell to about 1% of historic levels. Over 35,000 people lost their jobs.
How subjects help
- Biology: Count the growth rings in a tiny ear bone from a fish to tell how old it is.
- Mathematics: Estimate how many fish can be caught each year without the population shrinking.
- Environmental Science: Study how warming seas and new dams change where fish breed and feed.
- Chemistry: Test water for low oxygen and pollution that can make fish die in large numbers.
A famous name
Daniel Pauly: Marine biologist who leads the Sea Around Us project; named the world's most-cited fisheries scientist in 2020.
Try it yourself: How many fish can be caught?
- Draw a simple graph of the numbers. What is happening to the fish?
- Give two possible reasons.
- What rule would you suggest for next year, and how would you check if it worked?
- If you kept fish in a pond, what would they need every day to stay healthy?
Fisheries scientists and fish farmers track fish numbers and water conditions, so there are healthy fish for the future.
Also try: Watch an animal for ten minutes.
Known for it in
Iceland, Norway, Australia, USA, Canada