Marine biologist to aquaculture biologist
A marine biologist already meets 32% of what the aquaculture biologist role asks for. The move turns on 41 required skills not yet in the profile.
79.6/ 100
1 How much of what an aquaculture biologist is expected to do is already part of a marine biologist’s work. Directional: the figure for the reverse move differs, because moving into a speciality is not the same problem as moving out of one. 2 Every skill the aquaculture biologist role is recorded as needing, required and optional together. What these numbers mean.
Why this move works
An aquaculture biologist role treats 24 of its required skills as things a marine biologist already does. You would walk in with these on day one.
- apply scientific methods
- biology
- botany
- collect biological data
- conduct fish mortality studies
- conduct fish populations studies
What stands in the way is 41 required skills the profile does not yet cover. Table 3 groups them; Table 4 says which to take first.
Table 2 · What you already bring
Of the 33 skills that carry over, these are the ones fewest other occupations ask for. An aquaculture biologist role needs them, and most people applying for one will not have them already. This is the part of a marine biologist background worth leading with.
- already held marine biology natural sciences, mathematics and statistics
- already held analyse fish samples for diagnosis information skills
- already held conduct fish populations studies information skills
- already held inspect fish stock information skills
- already held develop aquaculture strategies management skills
- already held conduct research on flora information skills
All 33 carried skills, including the 24 the aquaculture biologist role treats as required.
Table 3 · What you may need to learn
The 86 missing skills fall into 13 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, numbered in the order worth working in. Areas carrying the most required skills come first, and inside each one the required skills sit above the optional ones. Nothing here is a verdict on you: it is a list of what this particular job asks for that your current one does not.
- still to learn manage intellectual property rights required
- still to learn communicate with a non-scientific audience required
- still to learn develop professional network with researchers and scientists required
- still to learn disseminate results to the scientific community required
- still to learn draft scientific or academic papers and technical documentation required
- still to learn evaluate research activities required
- still to learn increase the impact of science on policy and society required
- still to learn interact professionally in research and professional environments required
- still to learn mentor individuals required
- still to learn promote the transfer of knowledge required
- still to learn publish academic research required
- still to learn speak different languages required
- still to learn think abstractly required
- still to learn write scientific publications required
- optional, not held advise on animal welfare optional
- optional, not held communicate specialised veterinary information optional
- optional, not held interview parties in relation to animal welfare investigations optional
- optional, not held maintain relationships with animal welfare establishments optional
- optional, not held provide advice to hatcheries optional
- optional, not held provide on-site training in aquaculture facilities optional
- optional, not held apply blended learning optional
- optional, not held communicate technicalities with clients optional
- optional, not held create training materials optional
- optional, not held deliver online training optional
- optional, not held teach in academic or vocational contexts optional
- optional, not held use different communication channels optional
- optional, not held write routine reports optional
- still to learn analyse work-related written reports required
- still to learn apply for research funding required
- still to learn apply research ethics and scientific integrity principles in research activities required
- still to learn conduct research across disciplines required
- still to learn demonstrate disciplinary expertise required
- still to learn integrate gender dimension in research required
- still to learn manage findable accessible interoperable and reusable data required
- still to learn manage research data required
- still to learn promote open innovation in research required
- still to learn promote the participation of citizens in scientific and research activities required
- still to learn synthesise information required
- optional, not held assess environmental impact in aquaculture operations optional
- optional, not held develop management plans to reduce risks in aquaculture optional
- optional, not held identify risks in aquaculture facilities optional
- optional, not held inspect animal welfare management optional
- optional, not held maintain aquaculture treatment records optional
- optional, not held monitor fish mortality rates optional
- optional, not held report pollution incidents optional
- optional, not held apply risk management processes optional
- optional, not held diagnose aquatic animals disease symptoms optional
- optional, not held report analysis results optional
- optional, not held seek innovation in current practices optional
- still to learn implement scientific decision making in healthcare required
- still to learn manage personal professional development required
- still to learn perform project management required
- optional, not held develop aquaculture breeding strategies optional
- optional, not held develop fish health and welfare management plans optional
- optional, not held coordinate operational activities optional
- optional, not held discuss research proposals optional
- still to learn applied zoology required
- still to learn aquatic species required
- optional, not held cryopreservation optional
- optional, not held life sciences optional
- still to learn operate open source software required
- still to learn manage open publications required
- optional, not held prepare visual data optional
- still to learn conserve natural resources required
- still to learn follow safety precautions in fishery operations required
7 further areas in the appendix
Table 4 · Where to start
The 3 entries an aquaculture biologist role is least likely to hire without. The ordering is computed from the skill data, not from what pays.
- 01 applied zoology study this
- 02 conserve natural resources practise this
- 03 follow safety precautions in fishery operations practise this
Each entry opens a course search for that skill. Career Overlap earns nothing from these links.
Appendix · The rest of the record
All 33 skills that carry over
- already held apply scientific methods skill
- already held biology knowledge
- already held botany knowledge
- already held collect biological data skill
- already held conduct fish mortality studies skill
- already held conduct fish populations studies skill
- already held conduct research on fauna skill
- already held conduct research on flora skill
- already held control aquatic production environment skill
- already held develop aquaculture strategies skill
- already held ecology knowledge
- already held ecosystem management knowledge
- already held fish anatomy knowledge
- already held fish biology knowledge
- already held gather experimental data skill
- already held inspect fish stock skill
- already held laboratory techniques knowledge
- already held microbiology-bacteriology knowledge
- already held molecular biology knowledge
- already held monitor water quality skill
- already held perform field research skill
- already held perform scientific research skill
- already held scientific research methodology knowledge
- already held send samples to laboratory skill
- already held analyse fish samples for diagnosis skill
- already held conduct ecological research skill
- already held fish identification and classification knowledge
- already held habitat restoration knowledge
- already held marine biology knowledge
- already held monitor fish health status skill
- already held treat fish diseases skill
- already held write research proposals skill
- already held write work-related reports skill
The 7 learning areas not shown above
- still to learn biosecurity required
- still to learn virology required
- still to learn use specialised equipment required
- still to learn perform laboratory tests required
- still to learn carry out fish disease prevention measures required
- optional, not held collect fish samples for diagnosis optional
- optional, not held dispose of chemicals optional
- optional, not held ensure animal welfare in slaughtering practices optional
- optional, not held monitor treated fish optional
- optional, not held prepare fish treatment facilities optional
- optional, not held prepare fish treatment plan optional
- optional, not held preserve fish samples for diagnosis optional
- optional, not held screen live fish deformities optional
- optional, not held administer treatments to fish optional
- still to learn biotechnology in aquaculture required
- optional, not held aquaponics optional
- optional, not held fish welfare regulations optional
- still to learn pollution prevention required
- optional, not held pollution legislation optional
- optional, not held animal welfare legislation optional
- optional, not held assessment of risks and threats optional
45 supplementary skills, helpful but not required
- optional, not held advise on animal welfare optional
- optional, not held aquaponics optional
- optional, not held assess environmental impact in aquaculture operations optional
- optional, not held collect fish samples for diagnosis optional
- optional, not held communicate specialised veterinary information optional
- optional, not held cryopreservation optional
- optional, not held develop aquaculture breeding strategies optional
- optional, not held develop fish health and welfare management plans optional
- optional, not held develop management plans to reduce risks in aquaculture optional
- optional, not held dispose of chemicals optional
- optional, not held ensure animal welfare in slaughtering practices optional
- optional, not held identify risks in aquaculture facilities optional
- optional, not held inspect animal welfare management optional
- optional, not held interview parties in relation to animal welfare investigations optional
- optional, not held maintain aquaculture treatment records optional
- optional, not held maintain relationships with animal welfare establishments optional
- optional, not held monitor fish mortality rates optional
- optional, not held monitor treated fish optional
- optional, not held pollution legislation optional
- optional, not held prepare fish treatment facilities optional
- optional, not held prepare fish treatment plan optional
- optional, not held preserve fish samples for diagnosis optional
- optional, not held provide advice to hatcheries optional
- optional, not held provide on-site training in aquaculture facilities optional
- optional, not held report pollution incidents optional
- optional, not held screen live fish deformities optional
- optional, not held administer treatments to fish optional
- optional, not held animal welfare legislation optional
- optional, not held apply blended learning optional
- optional, not held apply risk management processes optional
- optional, not held assessment of risks and threats optional
- optional, not held communicate technicalities with clients optional
- optional, not held coordinate operational activities optional
- optional, not held create training materials optional
- optional, not held deliver online training optional
- optional, not held diagnose aquatic animals disease symptoms optional
- optional, not held discuss research proposals optional
- optional, not held fish welfare regulations optional
- optional, not held life sciences optional
- optional, not held prepare visual data optional
5 further entries not listed here
11 held skills the aquaculture biologist role does not ask for
- not needed by the target role advise on nature conservation skill
- not needed by the target role biotechnology knowledge
- not needed by the target role chemistry knowledge
- not needed by the target role coastal management knowledge
- not needed by the target role conduct ecological surveys skill
- not needed by the target role oceanography knowledge
- not needed by the target role organism taxonomy knowledge
- not needed by the target role perform data analysis skill
- not needed by the target role physics knowledge
- not needed by the target role physiology of animals knowledge
- not needed by the target role wind energy knowledge
13 gaps that are knowledge rather than practice
Knowledge gaps usually close through study. Practical skill gaps usually need something you can point at.
- still to learn applied zoology required
- still to learn aquatic species required
- still to learn biosecurity required
- still to learn biotechnology in aquaculture required
- still to learn pollution prevention required
- still to learn virology required
- optional, not held aquaponics optional
- optional, not held cryopreservation optional
- optional, not held pollution legislation optional
- optional, not held animal welfare legislation optional
- optional, not held assessment of risks and threats optional
- optional, not held fish welfare regulations optional
- optional, not held life sciences optional
Common questions about this move
Can a marine biologist become an aquaculture biologist?
Yes, and it is a career change move. A marine biologist already covers 32% of what an aquaculture biologist is expected to do: 33 skills carry over, 24 of which the aquaculture biologist role treats as required.
What skills does a marine biologist need to become an aquaculture biologist?
41 required skills are missing, plus 45 optional ones. They fall into 13 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, led by communication, collaboration and creativity. The single most important is applied zoology.
How hard is the move from marine biologist to aquaculture biologist?
Its learning distance is 79.6 out of 100, which is the career change band. That accounts for both how much is missing and how specialised those skills are.
How this record was compiled
Both occupations are taken from ESCO, which lists the skills and knowledge each occupation is expected to have and marks every one required or optional. Nothing here is a prediction about hiring, and nothing here knows that a particular employer wants a particular certificate. Treat Table 3 as a starting point for your own research rather than a syllabus. The full method states what these figures can and cannot tell you.