Community Discussions
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Bobby Fish is no longer a Q Trump loving nut job.
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He has been saved by the Dub. Thank you Tony. Can't wait to see him next week.
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Why? You'd think he would fit well in a company where none of their stars are POC
What kind of jobs are out there involving fish? (Im a HS senior who loves the idea of working with fish, but I’m scared of the amount of jobs, the pay, etc etc)
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Long story short, I’m a senior in high school and fish have always been really interesting to me. When I say I like fish, I REALLY like fish. I’ve even written a lot of my college admission essays about them. I’d love to study fish in college (probably major in fisheries and aquatic sciences, but a different major wouldn’t bother me either. Whatever would work the best). It doesn’t matter what job I have with fish, as long as it isn’t a back breaking hard labor job. I’m open to a lot of different things. The reason I am leaving my options so wide open is because I’ve always been told that there are not a lot of jobs in fish/fisheries, and the jobs that are out there are far from where I live (the Midwest). I don’t want to come out of college with a great education on fish/fisheries and not be able to get a job. So, I’m just trying to keep my options as wide open as possible in the hopes that there is some career out there involving fish that will mitigate these problems. I’ve always heard the pay is low as well. The pay doesn’t bother me as long as I’d be able to support a family off of it, and as long as we wouldn’t be struggling. I don’t need to be rich. I just really wouldn’t like to live paycheck to paycheck.
Honestly, I threw the whole idea of ever working with fish out of my mind for a while now because of the problems I’ve heard regarding it. Lately, I’ve been seeing it as a dream job that will probably never happen due to logistical problems. So, I’ve shifted my focus to environmental engineering instead, which does interest me, but not nearly as much as fish do.
Basically, what I’m asking is this: What are my options when it comes to fish related careers? How are the jobs in fisheries? Are there any fish nutritionist jobs? What about jobs which study fish? Jobs which raise ornamental aquarium fish? Research? Teaching? Studying or treating fish disease? Aquaculture? I’m open to any input, and any job suggestions you may have. I really just don’t want to give up on the dream prematurely. It’s okay if the dream has to die, I just want to make sure that it dies for a good reason not because I didn’t do enough research. Please be as brutally honest as you need to.
Thanks!
As a side note, I’m currently running an experiment for my bio class on the effect of feeding goldfish lower quality vs higher quality fish food. Let me know if you’d like the results of the experiment!
Top Comment: I know squat about fish (outside of some good recipes for salmon). But here is a bit of wisdom from someone who has followed a, let's call it a nontraditional career path: a wide variety of job opportunities is your chance to learn something. Don't think that your experience or qualifications will disqualify you from a particular job. Teddy Roosevelt had a saying, roughly this: "If someone asks if you know how to do something, say YES...and then immediately learn how to do that thing!" The world belongs to those willing to roll up their sleeves and do the dirty work.
Alaska fish processing jobs. Where they pay you best?
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Hello,
Does anyone have experience working in fish processing industry in Alaska (summers)?
Is it Leader Creek Fisheries or Silver Bay Seafood that pays better?
I’m a foreigner looking to work hard and earn big money.
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You’re the dude who posted a few days back about how to immigrate to Alaska from Europe and deleted the post 😂
There are many fisheries, if you need to know who pays better ask them. You don’t even have a visa, and you can’t work on ESTA.
And you’re way late for this summer already. Takes at least 2 months to clear a work visa, background checks and all. Do you even know you’re eligible for a work visa and working in the state? Fisheries have plenty of applicants from inside the US. Do you have special skills that US applicants don’t?
Got a fish processing job for the next three months... any advice?
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Never been to Alaska and I’m sure this isn’t going to be a glamorous trip so just looking for any tips that I should know! Thanks!
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Just accept now that it's gonna suck.
Does anyone here have a Fisheries and Wildlife degree that can give me advice prospective jobs?
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So I am looking into a major in Fisheries and Wildlife from Oregon State and the website states that these are the potential jobs:
Fisheries biologist Wildlife biologist Marine biologist Habitat restoration biologist Endangered species biologist Wildlife or fish manager Hatchery technician Wildlife area manager Hatchery manager International/exotic wildlife specialist Fish and wildlife law enforcement officer Zoo/aquarium animal caretaker Watershed council coordinator Environmental educator Wildlife interpreter Extension agent Park ranger
I am trying to gauge if this is accurate as I can't find a ton of practical information about this degree (I requested a packet from them). I would ideally like to work in research or at a zoo or aquarium, and wondering if I should look at other majors.
For more background, my husband is military stationed overseas and I have to do something online (if I don't want to wait three years), which is why my choices are a bit limited. I am trying to gauge if it's worth waiting until I get to Oregon and to take their zoology undergrad.
Top Comment: I have two FW degrees from OSU, and a great deal of related job experience, so I can probably answer any questions you have. I will address some basic things here to hopefully help you sort things out a little. Firstly, are you interested more in fish, or wildlife, or what exactly? That would help a lot to know, but it's totally okay if you're either unsure or open - I definitely was, and have switched tracks several times (kinda the beauty of it, but I'll get to that later). About deciding between FW or Zoology (which is actually now Integrative Biology): I have worked for and been closely involved in both departments. IB is very much more focused on the pure hard science aspect of life science/ecology. Some of the biggest names in their respective fields are there (Jane Lubchenco and Bruce Menge for example). I would not recommend going IB unless you are very serious about pursuing graduate school and a research or policy job. There are also respectable names in FW, but it is in the College of Agriculture (as opposed to College of Science), and so they are obligated to focus a little more on things like FW management via state and federal agencies. There are some in it because they want to be a game manager, some want to work at a hatchery, some want to work in law enforcement, but the vast majority are still interested in basic scientific research, so there is a lot of overlap. Both departments are really good though. IB is more serious about scores and performance, so you have to be a really good student. FW focuses a little more on cultivating genuine interest, and is easier on students. I'm a little more partial to IB at this point, but both departments, and OSU in general, are outstanding. 99 times out of 100, I would recommend that if you are not planning on going to grad school, then do not bother with either degree. I say this because I was completely unsure where I was headed with it when I started, and learned too late the hard way that that's pretty much my main option. There are very few jobs for you at the bachelors level, and the ones that are available are very low pay, with no benefits, and are almost always on seasonal or temporary contracts (game warden is one of the few real jobs you can get at this level). They are fun jobs - don't get me wrong - but you can't make a career out of them. Some have been lucky and fallen into good FW jobs with only a BS, but that is mostly an artifact of a previous generation - it's very rare nowadays. Not only that, but even with just a masters your job prospects and compensation shoot through the roof compared to the BS level. So, seriously, unless you are planning on getting a MS, PhD, or going to vet school, don't bother. Sorry, just trying to be straight with you. I worked for the OSU Foundation for a little bit following up on alumni, and I noticed that at least half of the undergrad FW alumni I talked to did not stay in the field because they couldn't find stable jobs, and didn't know to, or couldn't or didn't want to, go to grad school. Here's the thing though, if you are planning on going to grad school, it really doesn't matter much what you major in. As long as you have a degree in a life science discipline (or sometimes just any science discipline), you can go on to grad school and do whatever suits your interests. They often like people with varied education and experience. There is a lot of useful overlap in the life science disciplines, and you just have to make it work for you. So, for example, you could get a BS in FW, then a MS in ecology, and a PhD in fisheries, and work as a research biologist/ecologist/zoologist/whatever. It's encouragingly flexible. I have a lot more to say about grad school, but I will save that for a follow-up if you want to know more. As far as the jobs, the list is pretty accurate. I will point out to you however that working at a zoo/aquarium is not in any way, shape, or form, the same as doing research. A few of the bigger zoos/aquaria do in-house research, but that is not the norm. They are strictly about taking care of animals, and public education. Research is a whole other ball game. Research covers so much more than you could ever imagine at this point. There are a ton of interesting things to be done in the field and lab. Either way, expect to spend a lot of time in both. Field work can be the most physically demanding thing you'll ever do - no exaggeration. Be prepared for hard work, but also a ton of adventure and fun. You will do the coolest things you've ever done in your life and get paid for it. Once you get your MS or PhD, job-wise you can expect overall comfortable pay up to very good pay (let's say, $45k on the low end, up to $120k or more on the high end). Chances are you will be a university researcher, or work for a government agency - either way, good work, decent pay, great benefits, good job security, and you can be satisfied knowing you are pushing the edges of scientific knowledge and discovery. My advice to you is this: no matter what you choose, be open to trying lots of different courses and work - this will help you decide what you like and (more importantly), what you don't like. Always be working in your field - volunteer in someone's lab, work field internships in the summers, attend conferences, etc. This will up your chances of getting good jobs or grad positions when you're done. Unfortunately, networking dominates in science, so put yourself out there. That said, life science folks are very social for the sciences, and very laid back and fun, but are extremely serious and hard-working about what they do, because they absolutely love it above everything - we are definitely of a certain breed. If you want to get a feel for some jobs, check out the most popular FW job board in the country, hosted at Texas A&M . You can browse by type on the right hand side - start with temporary jobs to see what you can expect at the student or bachelors level. Then move on to full time positions - notice how even though many say a bachelors is required, they almost always say they prefer someone with a masters or PhD, plus years of experience. This means that if someone with a masters applies, pretty much any other applicant with only a bachelors is automatically not considered. Either way, check it all out and look at the kind of awesome work you could be doing, look at the requirements, the pay, the locations, the employers, etc - you'll see what I've been talking about. Let me know if you have any other questions - I am happy to answer them. Good luck!
Job Offer worth it? (Fish and Wildlife)
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Hi!
I love nature, I love ecology. My favorite courses while earning my BS Biology were anything related to ecology; ornithology, ecology itself, animal behavior, conservation, etc. while my least favorite were all of the 'typical' bio courses that lead to good paying jobs like microbiology, biochemistry.
I'm living in a new state, and recently interviewed with their Fish and Wildlife service for a seasonal October to May position. It's doing one of the least desirable tasks I could think of, but the job is mine if I want it as I have the offer! But essentially, I would be helping to collect from hunters and process the skinned, bloody, carcasses of this 1 species of game animal. There are certain aspects to this role I love, like monitoring the population of this species and their conservation, data analysis, helping with other FWS projects like bird banding etc. but the bulk of this task sounds like it's picking up hundreds of animal carcasses from freezers over the course of the season and collecting samples from them.
To be honest, it sounds pretty dreadful, but I know how hard it can be to even get an interview in this field. I have no work experience to back me up, so the way I see it, this could be a great first opportunity to help springboard me into the field and a better job. This is a mammal species, but I really want to work with birds. I'm unsure if "any" experience with wildlife would be helpful to getting towards bird work, or if this would not help me much. So..
I just don't know if it's worth it. I think ecology and wildlife are my passion, and I know it's never going to be lucrative and easy and stable, but it's an opportunity on my table. But, I'd be making around $15 an hour for ~35 hours a week of dealing with carcasses, vs $23 an hour for 40 hours at a pharmaceutical company here I also have an offer for. I'm also volunteering once a week at a wildlife rehabber to get experience. If this was any other role with ecology such as but not limited to monitoring the species (alive), I'd take it. The skinned carcass focus is dissuading me. So if you've read this far, I'm curious of what you would do-- I really don't have many people IRL to ask. Take the carcass position (lower wages + carcasses) or take the pharma position.
Top Comment: I don't really know if anyone can give you an answer here. But what I will say is if you're interested in animal ecology and you've never had a professional job in it, then you might regret not taking it. But your current pharmaceutical position sounds far better than what most people have going for them right out of school.
Big Fish Games lays off 250 people
Main Post: Big Fish Games lays off 250 people
Top Comment: I'm honestly surprised they still have so many people working for them. Big fish games made and published SO many amazing casual games. I wonder if people still buy them though. I haven't seen a game with their name on it since... Like... 2012.