A career in fisheries management

Fisheries Management

GREEN CAREERS

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Why work in Fisheries Management?

Climate change, pollution, overfishing, catchment management and freshwater habitat changes all have an effect on what is one of our most valuable resources, and we need passionate and skilled workers to restore and protect our river environments.

Salmon and freshwater fish are really important natural resources for Scotland, and people who work in fisheries management help to maintain the sustainability of fish stocks and aquatic habitats, making sure that they are in good condition.

Be part of the solution!

How do I get started?

If you enjoy working outdoors and have a passion for fishing, you’re ideally placed for a career in fisheries management looking after our rivers and fisheries.

To begin with, you will need to be really interested in fish, their habitats or the wider environment, or you might even be an angler and know something about the fishing industry.

You might be doing things like monitoring and managing fishery habitats, assessing levels and condition of fish stocks, or working with the public at a commercial sports fishery.

Other key tasks are: carrying out surveys of aquatic life, investigating fish health and water quality, monitoring fish stock levels and doing technical project work. You might also be advising members of the public and industry about sustainable fishing and promoting the regulation and protection of freshwater environments.

If you would enjoy developing your technical knowledge and practical skills, then a career in this diverse and rewarding industry could be perfect for you.

Jobs and apprenticeships in subjects like Rural Skills are available with local authorities, with river and fisheries trusts, or with government organisations and other public bodies in charge of fish, their aquatic environments, wider river catchment management or you might want to go to university or college and study ecology or biology, before pursuing a career in this area.

Whatever route you choose to take, much of your time could be spent outdoors in rural areas, usually on the banks of lakes, ponds and rivers.

There are lots of opportunities for anyone interested in a career within fisheries management, and many different routes into the industry.

Amongst the rewarding things you might be doing are: advising anglers, running a fish hatchery or managing fish stocks. Take a look at the jobs on the next page for inspiration. Some fisheries management work is seasonal, so you might have a more diverse land or estate maintenance or management role.

£ Fishery managers work closely with farmers to prevent watercourse pollution from farm run-off, which can affect oxygen levels for fish

With a career in Fisheries Management there are opportunities to work in Game and Wildlife Management or Environmental Conservation industries

Starting salaries are between £13,000 and £16,000, which can rise with experience to £35,000 for a more managerial role

Fisheries Management Career Options Here are some of the jobs you could be doing in our industry.

// PRIVATE SECTOR - SPORTING ESTATES

// PUBLIC SECTOR - LOCAL AUTHORITY

Ghillie Angling Guide Hatchery Manager

Water Bailiff Habitat Manager Fisheries Biologist

Routes into a Career in Fisheries Management Depending on your current skills and experience, you could enter at different levels.

JOB LEVEL

SENIOR ROLES

SCQF LEVEL 12

Doctorate

11

Masters | Graduate Apprenticeship

10

Honours Degree | Graduate Apprenticeship

9

Degree | Graduate Apprenticeship

8

HND Wildlife and Conservation Management | Graduate Apprenticeship Scottish Vocational Qualification | Technical Apprenticeship

7

HNC Countryside and Environmental Management | Modern Apprenticeship HNC Wildlife and Conservation Management | Scottish Vocational Qualification Scottish Vocational Qualification in Environmental Conservation

6

Scottish Vocational Qualification in Estate Management | Foundation Apprenticeship Land-based Workplace Skills Award | Modern Apprenticeship | Higher

5

NC Countryside Management | NPA Rural Skills | National 5 Modern Apprenticeship | Scottish Vocational Qualification Land-based Workplace Skills Award

4

NC Rural Skills | National 4 Skills for Work: Rural Skills | Land-based Workplace Skills Award

3

NPA Angling and the Environment

SUPERVISORY ROLES

SUPERVISED ROLES

TRAINING AND COURSES

Making a difference

Niall Provan:

Jamie Urquhart:

I was lucky enough to get involved in a large-scale tree planting and river protection project near Balquhidder, headed by Forth Rivers Trust.

We planted riparian woodland on a tributary of the River Larig, and it was great for taking me out of my comfort zone, working on a remote site on a project of that size.

Jamie did a degree in ecology at the University of Aberdeen and is now a biologist with the River Dee trust, working across the catchment area, looking after environments associated with the river, and managing the bailiffing team.

Project Support Officer

My apprenticeship really got me interested in large-scale river restoration and now I’m able to fulfil my dream. The project I’m working on looks at the impact climate change is having on the river’s fish population, so I’ve been doing surveying and sampling.

“Now I’m able to fulfil my dream” I really love getting stuck into a long-term project like this and seeing it progress. You get to see the positive results of your work and the changes actually happening in real time.

There is a bit of desk work to do, but most of my time is spent outdoors on site, getting my hands dirty and doing the practical work, which is what I really enjoy.

What employers are looking for is a demonstration of your commitment, so you want to be doing as much voluntary work as you can.

Biologist

There’s no such thing as a typical working day for me. I’m in different parts of the catchment, out in different seasons or out in different weather conditions.

“It’s a great environment to work in” I can be on the river policing with the bailiff team, electrofishing to monitor juvenile fish numbers, or even working at one of our fish counters.

In the fishing season we carry out policing and bailiffing to protect salmon and sea trout coming into the river. Then through winter there’s counts of fish that are spawning.

The best part of the job for me is having that variety. Most of my working day is spent outside, enjoying the fresh air and seeing wildlife which folk often don’t see.

As well as helping out and learning about lots of different activities, you’ll also meet up with people already working in the industry, so it’s a great way to contribute while preparing for your dream job.

Find out more For information on training and qualifications available, email scotland@lantra.co.uk or call 01738 310 164. www.scotland.lantra.co.uk www.myworldofwork.co.uk @lantrascotland @lantrascotland @lantra.scotland

GREEN CAREERS

Lantra in Scotland is supported by the Scottish Government Updated October 2022