So you want to work with sharks

We get asked all the time, “How do I get to work with sharks?”, “How do I get into shark conservation?”, “Where do I go to intern or volunteer in the field?”.

The growing interest people have in focusing their energies towards ocean and shark conservation is extremely encouraging. For the individuals, it can be very frustrating, though. It is hard to know where to start. But do not despair, there are many different ways to approach your goals.

First, you will want to determine which part of conservation you are interested in. Is it research? Advocacy? Media creation? There’s no such thing as “just” being a shark conservationist—there are many different skill sets that lead to jobs. They could be more closely related to engineering, construction, or the creative arts than they may be to marine biology. So don’t have tunnel vision on that aspect.

For volunteer work, we have worked with people who were professionals in other fields—graphic designers, fundraisers, salespeople. The question to answer is: What can you do in your field that could help? Sometimes it’s more valuable to apply your specific talent to conservation. In general, it is best not to think of “advocacy” as a job description. It’s a broad field. To be effective doesn’t necessarily require an academic approach. (But all campaigns do need experts). Sometimes, practical experience is so much more important. Get to know your local non-profits and the kind of work they do. If something resonates, reach out and help. Even if it isn’t your dream cause, getting some experience working with non-profits can be very useful. I also help you get to know the advocacy network and how groups collaborate.

Working alongside scientists and researchers is probably the trickiest request of them all. The work is often highly technical and doesn’t leave a lot of room for untrained volunteers. Actual boat time with sharks is also not easy to come by. Most advocacy work for sharks doesn’t actually take place in the ocean, and even graduate students who specialize in sharks have few projects to choose from that actually get them into the water with sharks.

Unfortunately, providing a list is beyond our capacity. Look for an educational or research institution near you that has a marine program and reach out for their guidance.