If you’ve ever dreamed of working in marine conservation or becoming a marine scientist, especially in hands-on, field-based roles, this episode is for you.

In this honest and unfiltered solo episode, I’m sharing three things I’m learning in real time about building a career in marine science. This isn’t advice from someone who has “made it.” It’s perspective from someone in the messy middle: balancing seasonal field work, bartending shifts, continuing education, networking attempts, and ocean-sized dreams.

Together we'll chat about:

• Why you probably won’t find your dream marine conservation job on Indeed
• Why passion alone doesn’t pay the bills (but still matters deeply)
• Why non-linear, zigzag career paths are actually the norm in this field

This isn’t polished advice. This is my lived experience.

If you're navigating the scrappy season of marine conservation, trust me, you've got this. This one is for you.

Episode Show Notes

Casey's Instagram - @caseysnook_

Podcast Instagram - @thisismarineconservation

Say hello! - casey@caseysnook.com

In this episode, I sit down with Nate Andrews, my boss and mentor at the RI DEM Division of Marine Fisheries. We chat about his original inspiration to be a scientist and the career path that led him to DEM.

Nate now works on the Access Point Angler Intercept Survey (APAIS), a program that studies recreational fishers and uses data to make important management decisions. We chat about how data collected from everyday anglers feeds into NOAA’s Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP), and why accurate catch and effort data is essential for sustainable fishing. Nate explains complex concepts like catch per unit effort in a way that actually makes sense, and shows how small data points can influence big management decisions.

Our conversation also dives into fish identification, stewardship, and the human side of fisheries science. Nate shares his personal passion for the ocean, what it’s like working directly with fishing communities, and why participation and trust are just as important as numbers and statistics when it comes to protecting the ocean.

Whether you’re an angler, a science nerd, or someone who simply loves the ocean, this episode will give you a whole new appreciation for the data behind every cast— and how better data truly leads to better fishing.

Episode Show Notes (click for all the links!)

Learn more about APAIS

Apply to work with us on the APAIS Program!

Learn more about the Division of Marine Fisheries and the RI Marine Fisheries Council

Check out Nate's fish print art

Casey's Instagram - @caseysnook_

Podcast Instagram - @thisismarineconservation

Say hello! - casey@caseysnook.com

What happens to fishing gear when it’s lost at sea? And how does it impact whales, fisheries, and our oceans?

In this episode, I’m joined by Fritz McGirr, a former touring percussionist turned marine biologist and self-proclaimed “ocean garbage fella.” Fritz works with the Center for Coastal Studies in Provincetown, Massachusetts, where he helps recover ghost gear (ALDFG: Abandoned, Lost, or Otherwise Discarded Fishing Gear).

We talk about how derelict gear is located (from fisherman intel to sonar and grappling grids), what researchers record when gear is pulled up, how this work connects to North Atlantic right whale protection, and why “recycling” isn’t as simple as we’ve been told. Fritz also shares small, realistic ways to reduce plastic—and a hopeful ocean win tied to Boston Harbor.

Episode Show Notes

Fritz's Instagram - @FritzMcGirr

Check out the Center for Coastal Studies and its Marine Debris and Plastics Program

Learn to freedive with Fritz at East Coast Divers

Casey's Instagram - @caseysnook_

Podcast Instagram - @thisismarineconservation

Say hello! - casey@caseysnook.com