Also called: Rigs-to-Reefs Coordinator, Artificial Reef Coordinator
Turns retired oil platforms, old ships and concrete into fish habitat on the seafloor, then studies the life that moves in.
When an oil company retires a Gulf platform, a state reef biologist helps decide whether to topple it in place as a reef. They review cleanup reports, pick sites away from shipping lanes, and dive or send ROVs to count snapper and grouper on old reefs. They also talk with anglers and divers who use the reefs.
Mostly state agency jobs.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 4 years after high school. Bachelor’s in marine biology or fisheries; many have a master’s.
Ways in: 4-year college, Graduate school. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Marine Biology, Fisheries Science, Oceanography.
Growing about average. Grows as more Gulf platforms are decommissioned.
Low risk in 5 years, medium in 10. AI can count fish in ROV video, but planning reef sites and fieldwork stays human.
Classes: Biology, Chemistry, Earth science.
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