The titles “marine scientist” and “marine biologist” are interchangeable. Marine biologists are scientists who study sea animals and plants as well as underwater ecosystems. They look at the relationship that the environment plays on various bodies of water. They also study the sealife in these waters. Some marine scientists or biologists will specialize in a handful of areas, such as the study of whales or the effect of noise pollution on dolphins.

Steve Heath, chief marine biologist at the Marine Resources Division of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, concentrates on marine fisheries management. He collects data on marine resources. “Currently we are collecting data on the sizes and distribution on numerous fish and invertebrates like shrimp, crabs, and oysters,” he explains.

Because he works for a state agency, Heath often is embroiled in battles between commercial fishermen and environmentalists. “At times I feel like we are standing on a pitcher's mound,” he says. “We try to call the right shots while remaining neutral to each side's cause.”

By making recommendations to his state-run agency, Heath can allow or limit the number of fish that are caught by commercial fishermen. Not everyone is pleased with the decisions that are reached. “The commercial fishermen want to catch as much fish [as they need] for their livelihood,” he says. “Others want us to stop sport fishing. We get opinions from all sides, and each one has a point.”

Fisheries managers, like Heath, can work for either a state or federal agency. Every state has its own Fish and Wildlife Service. Under the direction of the nationally run U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are state-run agencies that work to manage and preserve wildlife. Heath was drawn to his profession at an early age. “Like many people in my profession, Jacques Cousteau was my hero,” he says. “I decided I wanted to be a marine biologist or oceanographer at an early age.”

He got his bachelor's degree in zoology and his master's in marine science. He says that people need at least a master's degree to get a job as a marine biologist. “At the federal level or in academia, many go for their PhD,” he says. “After I finished my master's in marine science, I applied for many different jobs. This one in fisheries management came along. At the time, I didn't know much about fisheries management. I did a lot of learning on the job.” He's been working at the Marine Resources Division in Alabama for more than thirty years.

Since moving up the ladder to become the chief marine biologist, Heath does a good deal of office work managing a small staff. In the beginning he spent a bit more time outdoors. Hours tend to be between 8 A.M. and 5 P.M., with longer hours in the summer. “Daylight is longer in the summer, so we take advantage of that by being out on the waters,” he says. “It's routine to work more than forty hours a week. I would say that is the same trend with most jobs today.

“When I first started, I would spend at least two days a week out on a boat and the other three in the lab and attending meetings,” he says. “That has changed. As chief, I spend 95 percent of the time doing administrative work and attending meetings.” What drew him to the upper management position was the ability to affect policy. “With authority comes responsibility,” he says. “That can be a two-edged sword. I do love being outdoors — that's why most people go into this profession. But I can also make changes in policy.”

For example, fishermen were using nets to catch a particular kind of fish. “We adjusted the mesh on the nets so other fish couldn't be caught,” he says. “We can manage what fish can and can't be caught, and how much fish can be caught for commercial purposes.”

Heath also spends time talking to students who are interested in marine science careers. Students need a lot of science and math courses. “They also need to know how to write and communicate clearly,” he says. “Many people in the scientific community overlook the writing and communications aspects of the job. It helps if you can write and have scientific data published. You should also know how to write for the general public. If you want to keep this field alive, you have to promote it — and that means writing articles and occasionally giving talks.”

He tells everyone who wants to work in this field to either volunteer or get an internship. Master's degree programs have hands-on internships, but it is wise to have as much experience as possible. “I have taken some high school students out in January,” he says. “Usually our internships are during the summer months when the waters are much calmer. It's rougher in the winter, and it's just plain cold. The three or four summer interns get to shadow us on various projects. They do a lot of grunt work too. An internship really lets you know if this is the job for you.”

Heath says that within the next five to ten years many people in the profession will be retiring. “The baby boomers who went into this profession will soon retire,” he explains, “thus creating a good number of openings.”

Marine biologists start out earning $30,000 a year and move up to $80,000 over the course of several years on the job. Most of these jobs include full health benefits.