What kinds of jobs can I get with the Bachelor of Aquaculture and Marine Conservation?

Graduates work across aquaculture, research and conservation. Roles, our graduates, have moved into include:

• Commercial hatchery work, with shellfish (such as mussels and oysters) or finfish (such as salmon, kingfish and whitebait
• Aquarium technician
• Salmon pen work, including diving roles, and farm management
• Research technician in a research facility, working with finfish, shellfish, seaweed or algae
• Ecological or conservation ranger
• Ecological roles with councils
• Biosecurity advisor
• Fisheries officer
• Animal welfare consultant

Employers include Cawthron Institute, SPATnz, Sanford, New Zealand King Salmon, Akaroa Salmon, High Country Salmon, Mount Cook Salmon, Bioeconomy Science Institute and Earth Sciences New Zealand (NIWA), Nelson City Council and Tasman District Council, and the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), which covers aquaculture, fisheries, biosecurity and animal welfare.

You can also go further with your study. NMIT teaches up to Master's level, and graduates can move on to postgraduate study at a university. One of our former students completed a Master's and is now doing her PhD at AUT. A Bachelor of Science qualification is recognised overseas too, and some graduates work in Australia.

Aquaculture also needs people with other skills, such as engineering, electrical work, business and marketing. Some graduates pair their degree with another qualification or career path to carve out a specialist niche.