Marine biology: Highly-specialised SEAFARING VOCATION

Oil and gas companies, national governments and environment organisations are engaging the services of marine biologists to study aquatic plant and animal life

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With rising global awareness about the importance of preserving and protecting marine flora and fauna and its direct impact on sustainable life on Planet Earth, the study of oceans and water bodies, and underwater life or marine biology has emerged as a highly-specialised vocation. Pharmaceutical, oil and gas companies, national governments and environment research and conservation organisations are increasingly engaging the services of marine biologists to study aquatic plant and animal life ranging from the microscopic pico plankton to the majestic blue whale, and suggest ways and means to protect the fragile oceanic ecosystem without adversely affecting commercial shipping, oil and gas drilling, recreational cruises and the plastics, chemicals, among other industries.

Marine biology covers all facets — evolution, physiology, and biochemistry — of marine organisms and their environments, and much of the work of marine biologists is done in research labs. Typically, this involves building species inventories, testing and monitoring marine life exposed to pollutants, collecting and testing ocean bed and water samples, preserving specimens and mapping the distribution, multiplicity and migratory movements of marine populations.