Fish Conservation

The Fish Conservation major addresses the study, conservation, and sustainable use of aquatic animals and aquatic habitats, including streams, wetlands, estuaries, and oceans. You’ll study both the management of recreational and commercial fisheries as well as endangered species and ecosystems. You’ll graduate prepared to take an active role in finding new and better ways to conserve, use, and sustain the world’s vital aquatic resources. This major provides excellent preparation for graduate school.

Students majoring in fish conservation take courses in the following core areas: natural resources and environment, population dynamics, human dimensions of fisheries and wildlife, evolutionary biology, legal foundations, public speaking and writing, chemistry, and statistics. Additional major coursework is also required in oceanography, ichthyology, fish ecology, fish management, ecology, and geographic information systems (GIS) technology.

Career options

• Animal caretaker
• Aquaculturist
• Biological science technician/fishery technician/wetlands technician
• Environmental consultant
• Environmental educator/conservation education specialist
• Fish culturist/hatchery manager
• Fishery biologist
• Fishing and hunting guide
• Game warden
• Museum collections manager
• Public affairs specialist
• Research fisheries biologist