The Fish Conservation Major is for students interested in research and management of aquatic animals and ecosystems, including shellfish, endangered species, sport fish, and aquaculture systems. Most graduates work for state or federal conservation agencies, environmental consulting firms, or public utilities. Options are offered for both freshwater fisheries conservation and marine fisheries conservation. Because many jobs in this field require a master’s degree, the program emphasizes preparation for graduate school.

Career Opportunities

The majority of graduates go on to internships or entry-level permanent positions with state or federal government agencies that practice fish and wildlife management. Our fisheries graduates most often have been recruited by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, Virginia Marine Resources Commission, Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, and the U.S. Forest Service, and wildlife students by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

• State fisheries and wildlife management agencies, especially the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries and sister agencies of adjoining states,
• Federal agencies, such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. Geological Survey Biological Resources Division, USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildilfe Services, and the National Marine Fisheries Service,
• State agencies with environmental missions, such as the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality,
• The private sector, including environmental consultants, forest land management companies, and aquaculture companies, and
• Public schools, teaching environmental science, biology, or natural resources.