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Working in the Field

Facilities & Organizations

Facilities & Organizations

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS/SOCIETIES

Acoustical Society of America
ASA Office Manager
Suite 1N01
2 Huntington Quadrangle
Melville, NY 11747-4502
Phone: (516) 576-2360
Fax: (516) 576-2377

Alliance for Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums
103 Queen Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
Phone: (703) 549-0137
Fax: (703) 549-0488
www.ammpa.org

American Association of Zookeepers
3601 SW 29
Suite 133 
Topeka, KS 66614-2054
www.aazk.org

American Society of Mammalogists
P.O. Box 7060 
Lawrence, KS 66044
Phone: (785) 843-1235 (800) 627-0629 
Fax: (785) 813-1274
www.mammalsociety.org

American Zoo and Aquarium Association
8403 Colesville Rd., Suite 710
Silver Spring, MD 20910-3314
Phone: (301) 562-0777
Fax: (301) 562-0888
www.aza.org

European Association for Aquatic Mammals
300, Chemin de la Suquette
Les Vergers de Valconstance
Villa 33
06600 Ntibes, France
Phone: 33 6 18074363
www.eaam.org

The International Association for Aquatic Animal Medicine
The Florida Aquarium 
701 Channelside Drive
Tampa, FL 33602
Phone: (813) 367-4010
Fax: (813) 209-2067
www.iaaam.org

International Marine Animal Trainers’ Association (IMATA)
1200 South Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, IL 60606
Fax: (312) 939-2216
www.imata.org

National Marine Educators Association
P.O. Box 1470
Ocean Springs, MS 39566
www.marine-ed.org

The Society for Marine Mammalogy
https://www.marinemammalscience.org/ 


 

PUBLIC EDUCATION FACILITIES

Dolphin Research Center
58901 Overseas Highway
Grassy Key, FL 33050-6019
Phone: (305) 289-1121
Fax: (305) 743-7627
www.dolphins.org

Brookfield Zoo
Chicago Zoological Society
3300 Golf Rd
Brookfield, IL 60513
Phone: (708) 485-0263
Fax: (708) 485-3532
www.brookfieldzoo.org

Clearwater Marine Aquarium
249 Windward Passage
Clearwater, FL 33767-2244
Phone: (727) 441-1790 / (888) 239-9414
http://www.seewinter.com

The Dolphin Connection
c/o Hawk’s Cay Resort
61 Hawk’s Cay Blvd.
Duck Key, Fl 33050-3756
Phone: (305) 743-7000 / (888) 814-9154
Fax: (305) 289-0136
www.dolphinconnection.com

Dolphin Encounters, Inc.
P.O. Box SS 6757
Nassau, Bahamas
Phone: (242) 394-2200
Fax: (242) 394-2244
www.dolphinswims.com

The Dolphin Experience
P.O. Box F-42433
Royal Palm Way
Freeport, Grand Bahama Island, Bahamas
Phone: (242) 373-1244 / (800) 992-DIVE
Fax: (242) 373-8956
www.unexso.com

Dolphin Quest, Inc.
P.O. Box 1068
Middleburg, VA 20118
Phone: (441) 238-4727
Fax: (441) 238-4763
www.dolphinquest.com

Dolphin Quest, Bermuda
15 Maratime Lane
Sandys, Bermuda
Phone: (441) 234-4464
Fax: (441) 234-4992
www.dolphinquest.com/index.php/
bermuda_experience


Dolphin Quest, French Polynesia
Moorea Dolphin Center
Beachcomber Park Royal
B.P. 1021 - Papetoai
98729 Moorea
Polynesie Francaise
Phone: 689-55-19-48
Fax: 689-56-16-67
www.mooreadolphincenter.com

Dolphin Quest, Hawaii
c/o Hilton Waikoloa Village
68-425 Waikoloa Beach Drive
Waikoloa, HI 96738
Phone: (808) 886-2875
www.dolphinquest.com/index.php
/hawaii_experience


Dolphin Quest, Oahu
Kahala Mandarin Oriental, Hawaii 
5000 Kahala Ave 
Honolulu, HI 96816 
Phone: (808) 739-8918
www.dolphinquest.com/index.php/
oahu_experience


Epcot Living Seas
PO Box 10,000
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
Phone: (407) 824-2222 ask for the living seas.

Gulf World
15412 Front Beach Road
Panama City Beach, FL 32413
Phone: (850) 234-5271
Fax: (850) 235-8957

Indianapolis Zoo
1
200 West Washington Street
Indianapolis, IN 46222
Phone: (317) 630-2001
Fax: (317) 630-5153
www.indyzoo.com

Lisbon Zoo
Estrada De Benfica, 158-160
Sete Rios, 1500 Lisboa, Portugal
Phone: 21/726/92/49

Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific 
100 Aquarium Way 
Long Beach, CA 90802 
Phone: (562) 590-3100 
www.aquariumofpacific.org

Institute for Marine Mammal Studies
PO Box 4078
Gulfport, MS 39502
Phone: (228) 864-2511
Fax: (601) 863-3673
http://www.imms.org

Marineland of Florida
9600 Ocean Shore Blvd.
Marineland, FL 32080-9602
Phone: (904) 460-1275
Fax: (904) 461-0156
www.marineland.net

Marine World Africa/USA
Marine World Parkway
Vallejo, CA 94589
Phone: (707) 644-4000

Miami Seaquarium
4400 Rickenbacker Causeway
Miami, FL 33149-2512
Phone: (305) 365-2520
Fax: (305) 365-0075
miamiseaquarium.com

 

Minnesota Zoo
13000 Zoo Blvd.
Apple Valley, MN 55124
Phone: (952) 431-9500
Fax: (612) 431-9300
www.mnzoo.com

Mirage Dolphin Habitat
3400 Las Vegas Blvd, South
Las Vegas, NV 89109
Phone: (702) 791-71980
Fax: (702) 792-7684
The Mirage Dolphin Habitat

Monterey Bay Aquarium
886 Cannery Row
Monterey, CA 93940-1085
Phone: (831) 648-4800
Fax: (831) 644-4810
http://www.montereybayaquarium.org

Mystic Aquarium
Institute for Exploration
55 Coogan Blvd.
Mystic, CT 06355-1997
Phone: (860) 572-5955
Fax: (860) 572-5969
www.mysticaquarium.org

National Aquarium in Baltimore
501 E Pratt Street, Pier 3
Baltimore, MD 21202-3194
Phone: (410) 576-3800
www.aqua.org

New England Aquarium
Central Wharf
Boston, MA 02110
Phone: (617) 973-5200
www.neaq.org

New York Aquarium
The Wildlife Conservation Society
2300 Southern Blvd.
Bronx, NY 10460
Phone: (718) 265-FISH
nyaquarium.com/

Oregon Coast Aquarium
2820 SE Ferry Slip Rd
Newport, OR 97365
Phone: (541) 867-3474
Fax: (541) 867-6846
www.aquarium.org

Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium
One Wild Place
Pittsburgh, PA 15206
Phone: (800) 474-4966 (412) 665-3604
Fax: (412) 665-3661
pittsburghzoo.com

Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium
5400 N Pearl Street
Tacoma, WA 98407-3218
Phone: (253) 591-5337
www.pdza.org

Sea Life Park Hawaii
41-202 Kalanianaole Highway, Suite 7
Waimanalo, HI 96795
Phone: (866) DOLPHIN
www.sealifeparkhawaii.com 

Sea World of California
500 Sea World Dr.
San Diego, CA 92109-7995
Phone: (800) 25- SHAMU

Sea World of Florida
7007 Sea World Drive
Orlando, FL 32821
Phone: (800) 327-2424

Sea World of Texas
10500 Sea World Drive
San Antonio, TX 78251
Phone: (800) 700-7786

John G. Shedd Aquarium
1200 S Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, IL 60605
Phone: (312) 939-2438
Fax: (312) 939-8069
sheddaquarium.org

Six Flags Discovery Kingdom
1001 Fairgrounds Drive
Vallejo, CA 94589
Phone: (707) 643-6722
Fax: (707) 644-0241
http://www.sixflags.com/discoverykingdom

Theater of the Sea
84721 Overseas Highway
Islamorada, FL 33036
Phone: (305) 664-2431
Fax: (305) 664-8162
www.theaterofthesea.com

Vancouver Aquarium
PO Box 3232
Vancouver, BC
Canada V6B 3X8
Phone: (604) 659-3474
Fax: (604) 659-3515
http://www.vanaqua.org

Waikiki Aquarium
2777 Kalakaua Ave.
Honolulu, HI 96815
Phone: (808) 923-9741
Fax: (808) 923-1771
www.waikikiaquarium.org

Dolfinarium Harderwijk
Strandboulevard, Oost 1
3841 AB Harderwijk, The Netherlands
Phone: (31) 341-46-7467
www.dolfinarium.nl/en/

Zoomarine
E.N. 125 KM 65 – Guia
8200-864 Albufeira, Portugal
Phone: 351-289-560300
Fax: 351-289-560309
www.zoomarine.pt/en/

ACADEMIC/RESEARCH ORGANIZATIONS

Allied Whale
c/o College of the Atlantic
105 Eden Street
Bar Harbor, ME 04609
Phone: (207) 288-5015
Fax: (207) 288-4126
www.coa.edu/alliedwhale

Animal Behavior Institute, Inc.
2625 McDowell Road
Durham, NC 27705
Phone: 1-866-755-0448
www.animaledu.com/land/
dolphin_land.htm


Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences
17 Biological Lane
Ferry Reach
St. George’s GE 01
Bermuda
Phone: (441) 297-1880
Fax: (441) 297-8143
www.bios.edu/

Center for Coastal Studies
59 Commercial St.
Provincetown, MA 02657
Phone: (508) 487-3622
Fax: (508) 487-4495
coastalstudies.org

Center for Whale Research
PO Box 1577
Friday Harbor, WA 98250
Phone: (360) 378-5835
Fax: (360) 378-5954
orcasurvey@rockisland.com
http://www.whaleresearch.com/

Cetacean Behavior Laboratory
Psychology Department
San Diego State University
San Diego, CA 92182
Phone: (619) 594-5649
Fax: (619) 594-1332
http://www.sci.sdsu.edu/cbl/
CBL_Internship.html


The Dolphin Institute 
420 Ward Ave
Suite 212
Honolulu, HI 96814
Phone: (808) 593-2211 / (800) 831-8305
Fax: (808) 597-8572 
https://www.workingabroad.com/database/
the-dolphin-institute-hawaii

The Dolphin Project
PO Box 10323
Savannah, GA 31412
Phone: (770) 426-4902
(912) 925-7420
www.thedolphinproject.org 

Earthtrust
1118 Maunawili Rd.
Kailua, HA 96734
Phone: (808) 261-5339
Fax: (808) 202-3893
www.earthtrust.org

Earthwatch International
3 Clock Tower Place, Suite 100
Box 75
Maynard, MA 01754
Phone: (808) 261-5339
Fax: (808) 202-3893
www.earthwatch.org

Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute
5600 US 1 North
Ft. Pierce, Florida 34946
Phone: (772) 465 - 2400
Fax: (772) 467-2061
http://www.fau.edu/hboi/

The Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology
PO Box 1346
Kaneohe, HI 96744
Phone: (808) 236-7401
Fax: (808) 236-7443
www.hawaii.edu/HIMB

Hawaii Whale Research Foundation
P.O. Box 1296
Lahaina, Maui, HA 96767
www.hwrf.org

Hilton Head Dolphin Study
Mystic Marinelife Aquarium
55 Coogan Blvd.
Mystic, CT 06355
Attn

Wild Dolphin Project
P.O. Box 8436
Jupiter, FL 33468
Phone: (561) 575-5660
Fax: (561) 575-5681
wdp@igc.org
www.wilddolphinproject.org

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Cetacean Behavior and Communication
Information Office
Co-op Building, MS #16
Woods Hole, MA 02543
Phone: (508) 289-2252
Fax: (508) 457-2180
information@whoi.edu
www.whoi.edu

Hubbs-Sea World Research Institute
2595 Ingraham Street
San Diego, CA 92109
Phone: (619) 226-3870
Fax: (619) 226-3944
www.hswri.org

Kewalo Basin Marine Mammal Laboratory
1129 Ala Moana Blvd.
Honolulu, HI 96814
Phone: (808) 591-2121
Fax: (808) 597-8572

Atlantic Dolphin Research Cooperative
http://www.biologydir.com/atlantic-dolphin-
research-cooperative-adrc-info-37749.html

Long Marine Lab at UC Santa Cruz
100 Shaffer Road
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Phone: (831) 459-4308
Fax: (831) 459-1221
http://seymourcenter.ucsc.edu/marine-scien
ce/institute-of-marine-sciences
-long-marine-lab-ucsc/

Marine Mammal Research Program
Behavioral Ecology Laboratory
Texas A&M University
4700 Avenue U, Bldg. 303
Galveston, TX 77551
Phone: (409) 740-4718
Fax: (409) 740-4717
www.tamug.edu/mmbeg

Chincoteague Bay Field Station
7278 Enterprise
St. Wallops Island, VA 23337
Phone: (757) 824-5636
Fax: (757) 824-5638
http://www.cbfieldstation.org

Moss Landing Marine Laboratories
8272 Moss Landing Rd.
Moss Landing, CA 95039
Phone: (831) 632-4400
Fax: (831) 632-4403
www.mlml.calstate.edu

Mote Marine Laboratory
1600 Ken Thompson Parkway
Sarasota, FL 34236
Phone: (941) 388-4441
www.mote.org

Coastal Dolphin Survey Project
Marine Science Department
Orange Coast College
2701 Fairview Rd.
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Phone: (714) 432-5564
http://www.orangecoastcollege.edu/
academics/divisions/math_science/
marine_science/Pages/
Coastal-Dolphin-Survey-Project.aspx

New England Aquarium
Edgerton Research Lab (ERL)
Central Wharf
Boston, MA 02110

Ocean Mammal Institute
PO Box 14422
Reading, PA 19612
Phone: (800) 226-8216 (610) 670-7386
www.oceanmammalinst.com

Pacific Whale Foundation
300 Maalaea Rd
Suite 211
Wailuku, HI 96793
Phone: Phone: (808) 249-8811 /
800-WHALE-1-1
Fax: (808) 243-9021
www.pacificwhale.org

The School for Field Studies
10 Federal St., Suite 24 
Salem, MA 01970-3876
Phone: (800) 989-4418 (978) 741-3544
Fax: (978) 927-5127
www.fieldstudies.org

United States Navy
Commanding Officer
Space and Naval Warfare Systems
Center San Diego
53560 Hull St.
San Diego, CA 92152-5001
Phone: (619) 553-2724
Fax: (619) 553-2678 (intern opportunities)
https://www.public.navy.mil/spawar/Pacific/
technology/Pages/mammals.aspx


Virginia Marine Science Museum
717 General Booth Boulevard
Virginia Beach, VA 23451
Phone: (757) 425-FISH
https://www.virginiaaquarium.com/
Pages/default.aspx


Pacific Wildlife Foundation
Reed Point Marine Education Centre, 
Reed Point Marina 
Port Moody, British Columbia V3H 1V6
http://www.pwlf.org/

Whale Center of New England
PO Box 159
Gloucester, MA 09131-0159
Phone: (978) 281-6351
Fax: (978) 281-5666
info@whalecenter.org
www.whalecenter.org

The Whale Research Group
Department of Industry, Trade, and Technology
Government of Newfoundland and Labrador
P.O. Box 8700
St. John’s, Newfoundland
Canada A1B 4J6
Phone (709) 729-5600
Fax: (709) 729-5936

 

 

GOVERNMENT

Marine Mammal Commission
4340 East West Highway
Suite 4340 East West Highway
Bethesda, MD 20814
Phone: (301) 504-0087

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA)
National Sea Grant Office 
NOAA/Sea Grant, R/SG 
1315 East-West Highway
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Phone: (301) 713-2431 
Fax: (301) 713-0799 
seagrant.noaa.gov/

NOAA Fisheries, Office of Protected Resources
F/PR 
1315 East-West Highway
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Phone: (301) 713-2332 
Fax: (301) 427-2520 
www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr

U.S. Office of Personnel Management
https://www.noaa.gov/work-with-us

 

 

ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS

Earthwatch Institute
3 Clock Tower Place, Suite 100
Box 75
Maynard, MA 01754
Phone: (800) 776-0188 (978) 461-0081
Fax: (978) 461-2332
www.earthwatch.org

The Marine Fish Conservation Network
600 Pennsylvania Ave., SE, Suite 302B
Washington, DC 20003
Phone: (202) 543-5509
Fax: (202) 543-5774
www.conservefish.org

Marine Stewardship Council
2110 N. Pacific Street, Suite 102
Seattle, WA 98103
Phone: (206) 691-0188/9
Fax: (206) 691-0190
www.msc.org

Natural Resources Defense Council
40 West 20th St.
New York, NY 10011
Phone: (212) 727-2700
Fax: (212) 727-1773
www.nrdc.org

The Ocean Conservancy
1725 DeSales St., NW, Suite 600
Washington D.C. 20036
Phone: Phone: (202) 429-5609

Oceanic Society Expeditions
Ft. Mason Center, Building E
San Francisco, CA 94123
Phone: (800) 326-7491 / (415) 441-1106
Fax: (415) 474-3395
www.oceanic-society.org

Save the Whales
1192 Waring St.
Seaside, CA 93955
Phone: (831) 899-9957
Fax: (831) 394-5555 
www.savethewhales.org

SeaWeb
1731 Connecticut Ave. NW 4th Floor
Washington, DC 20009
Phone: (202) 483-9570
www.seaweb.org

Ocean Alliance
191 Weston Road
Lincoln, MA 01773
Phone: (781) 259-0423 (800) 96WHALE
Fax: (781) 259-0288
https://www.whale.org/

World Wildlife Fund – Endangered Seas Campaign
Washington, DC 20037
Phone: (800) CALL-WWF
https://wwf.panda.org/our_work/oceans/

 

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Research Careers

Research Careers

Thank you for your interest in careers related to marine mammal research. If you are interested in marine mammals, there are many career paths you can choose to work with them or for them. The opportunities for conducting research vary depending on your setting. 
 
How should I prepare educationally for my research career?

It’s never too early to start preparing for your research career. While in middle and high school, you can gain valuable knowledge and experiences in the field of biology. You will need lots of math and science classes to gain a strong background for college.

In order to work with marine mammal research, you will need a minimum of a 4-year degree, although a Masters or PhD is usually necessary to conduct your own research projects. Common undergraduate majors are Biology, Behavioral Ecology, Marine Biology, Psychology, or Animal Behavior.

The college you choose will depend on your interests. You must first decide the area in which you would like to major. Your library will have a book of colleges to help you determine the schools in the U.S. that offer your intended major. Look for schools that offer biology or animal behavior and psychology majors. You can then look at the size, location and cost of the listed colleges to help you narrow-down your choices.  We have a list of colleges and universities in Florida on our website (www.dolphins.org) that offer biology majors.  Look under the section called “Marine Education”.

Once you find your top three choices, you should try to visit the schools to see if they meet your needs. Talk to both faculty and students to learn about the positive and negative aspects of the school. If possible try to spend a night with a current student in your future major and attend at least one or two classes. Also, make sure the professors in your department will be supportive of your future career and will be able to assist you in achieving your goals. The school career centers also have helpful resources for students, so you may want to see what your potential schools have to offer their graduates.

Should I study biology or psychology?

That depends on your interests! Biologists typically study a species’ physiology, naturally occurring behaviors, or characteristics of an entire population, such as home range, diet, or social groupings. Psychologists are commonly interested in topics that are more internal that can be experimentally investigated using a small number of animals. Cognition is a good example, which is the mental capacity to think critically, analyze and problem solve.

However, there are several areas where the interests of biologists and psychologists overlap. For example, echolocation is an active area of research by both biologists and psychologists. A biologist may investigate what anatomical structures produce echolocation clicks, or the sound characteristics (frequency, amplitude, etc.) of the clicks. A psychologist may examine what kind of information the dolphin receives from echolocation – an echo-image, or simply a sound pattern that they’ve encountered before with other senses.

As a general rule, biologists are more likely to study wild populations, and psychologists are more likely to study individuals in human care.

What types of research are there?

Observational with wild populations – People who do this type of research usually go out into the ocean in a boat and observe marine mammals in their natural environment. They may photograph them for identification, record the sounds that they make, or record their behavior during specific situations. Some studies are land-based in which the animals are observed with binoculars. Some examples of this type of research are population counts, photo I.D. projects that track individuals over time, or interactions with boaters. Research with wild dolphins sounds glamorous and can be at times. Do not be disillusioned, however, it is often frustrating not to see whales, the weather and ocean can often be harsh, and much of the time is still spent back at the “lab” identifying individuals and analyzing results. Some researchers take this route, because it is very rewarding when successful.

Observational with human care populations – Since it is difficult to observe marine mammals in their own environment (i.e., underwater, moving quickly), many projects are carried out with animals that are in human care facilities. These types of studies usually focus on behavior. Some studies record information about a specific behavior that occurs during normal social interactions. Other studies introduce a stimulus to the animal’s environment and then record the response. Some examples of this type of research are studying calf development, mother-calf relationships, and recording and cataloging whistles with associated behaviors.

Behavioral with human care populations – This type of research involves training animals to perform specific behaviors and then recording their responses. In the training phase of the project, the subject learns what stimulus it is supposed to pay attention to and how to respond. In the testing phase, the stimulus is usually varied to see how the animal interprets the new information. Some examples of questions that can be studied with behavioral methods are audiograms (hearing thresholds), visual acuity (eyesight test), communication, imitation, and cognition

Behavioral research with wild marine mammals is impractical and often impossible.

Physiological – This type of research is often carried out by veterinarians or people with medical backgrounds. Some projects involve conducting medical tests, such as collecting blood samples. Others involve studying animals that have died (often from strandings) to learn things such as the reason for stranding, the amount of toxins in the blubber, stomach contents, or to be able to describe internal anatomy.

Should I volunteer or intern?

Yes! It can be quite difficult to get your foot in the door of a marine mammal facility. The best way to gain valuable hands–on experience is to complete volunteer work or an internship at a facility that has animals (they don’t necessarily have to be dolphins). Many colleges require or strongly advise these programs because they enable you to learn while in the field. An internship will help you to determine whether or not you want to continue to pursue a research career and what aspect of research you may want to participate in. People often have a glorified image of working with marine mammals and do not realize the hard work and dedication it takes to succeed in the field. DRC offers both volunteer and intern programs for individuals 18 and over. We even offer a Research Intern volunteer position typically each semester. You can find information about our programs at Dolphin Research Center.

*Many of DRC’s staff members participated in our volunteer and intern program before being hired as employees. Many facilities look highly upon the dedication and commitment necessary to be a volunteer.*

Are there any programs to help me learn about research and dolphins?

Participation in programs like our week long DolphinLab can be very helpful. DolphinLab introduces you to the overall operation of a marine mammal facility and educates you about topics such as training, husbandry, physiology, maternity, stranding, conservation, research, and more. This program also lets you get up close and personal with the dolphins through swims and dock interactions. DolphinLab exposes you to many different career opportunities in the marine mammal field and helps you to determine your area of interest. We also offer a specific research DolphinLab course for adults. You can find more information about DolphinLab programs on our web page at DolphinLab. We hope to see you soon!

What are the average salary and benefits of a researcher? 

Marine mammal scientists enter this field for the satisfaction of the work, not for the money-making potential of the career. Salaries vary greatly among marine mammal scientists, with government and industry jobs having the highest pay. Salary levels will increase with years of experience and graduate degrees, but generally remain low considering the amount of experience and education needed. High competition in this field most likely will keep salaries at a modest level. A 1990 survey of 1,234 mammalogists conducted by the American Society of Mammalogists indicated that 42.7% of the respondents earned >$40,000/year. 21.2% of the respondents fell into the $30,000-$40,000 range. (Quoted from The Society of Marine Mammalogy.)

What are the positive and negative aspects of your job?

The job varies considerably depending on what kind of research you do and at what level you are in your career. The best part about being a marine mammal researcher is that you are constantly discovering new things about the animals that interest you, things that no one else has known before. Much of the information that comes out of research projects contributes to better protection or greater understanding of the species. For example, because facilities have tracked physiology and development so closely with the dolphins in their care, researchers of wild dolphins have “standards” that they can compare with the dolphins they study.

Another positive aspect is the amount of time you can spend observing the animals just being themselves.

One negative aspect is that research can be very repetitive and monotonous. In behavioral research, it often takes several hundred trials to have enough statistical power to analyze the results. Likewise with observational research, you must record the exact same behaviors, filling out the exact same data sheets, for extended periods of time. For some people, the routine can become quite tedious.

How do I get to work directly with the animals?

If your goal is to have direct contact with marine mammals on a daily basis, then you would most likely need to become a trainer. However, trainers usually don’t get to do research, although they may assist researchers in some cases.  If your character and skills are more suited for other careers in the field, then there are many other ways you can work in a marine mammal environment.  Here are a few examples:

Veterinarian: As a marine mammal veterinarian, you are responsible for the care and health of the animals. You will conduct medical procedures and check-ups. You will assess their needs and monitor their diets, vitamins and medicine. You may be a full-time marine mammal veterinarian or you may have a private practice for domestic animals and be affiliated with a facility that has dolphins or sea lions.

Veterinary Technician: A vet tech assists the veterinarian with medical procedures and check-ups. Often, facilities may have a full-time vet tech that oversees general medical care and diet planning of the marine mammals. Veterinary technicians may oversee diet records and analyze specimens collected from animals.

Animal Care: Some larger facilities have marine mammals that do not participate in training sessions, and will be cared for by animal care staff members. These animals may include stranded dolphins undergoing recovery or manatees. Animal care staff will prepare diets, feed animals and clean exhibits.

Educator: As an education staff member at DRC, you teach seminars and lead workshops on a variety of marine mammal topics. At DRC, you focus on our week-long program called DolphinLab. Educators also respond to requests for information from the public, visit schools and community organizations for outreach programs, and create exciting classroom activities. At DRC our senior education instructors have the opportunity to be trained to work directly with the dolphins. Some facilities teach with live marine animals, such as invertebrates, and educators are responsible for bringing them into the classroom for hands-on education. At many zoos, a variety of animals may be used for hands-on learning and the education staff may be asked to not only show these animals in presentations, but also be their primary caregivers.

We have listed a few of the many career options that are available at a marine mammal facility. Look for opportunities in management, media, marketing, accounting, human resources, program development, computer programming, ground and tank maintenance, customer service, photographers, videographers, dolphin assisted therapy, medical, and much more.

What books or references would help me to find out more about research and other careers in the marine mammal field?

“Careers in Marine Biology,” Jay Hemdal (Freshwater and Marine Aquarium, Vol 10, Feb. 1987, pg. 66-67).

“I’ll do Anything to Work with Whales or Dolphins!” Valerie Chase (Current, 1992, 11 (1): 31-33).

“Training and Careers in Marine Science: An Information Packet “
Available for a small fee from:
International Oceanographic Foundation
4600 Rickenbacker Causeway
Miami, FL 33149

“Strategies For Pursuing A Career In Marine Mammal Science” by the Society of Marine Mammalogy. Available at http://pegasus.cc.ucf.edu/~odell/strat.htm.

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Schools & Universities

Schools & Universities

Schools with a focus on animal care and training

Moorpark College
Exotic Animal Training and Management Program 
7075 Campus Road
Moorpark, CA 93021
Phone: (805) 378-1441
www.moorparkcollege.edu/current-students/teaching-zoo

 

Santa Fe Community College
Zoo Animal Technology Program
Zoo NW Campus
Gainesville, FL 32606
Phone: (352) 395-5604
https://www.sfcollege.edu/zoo/index

Undergraduate and Graduate Schools

University of Alaska Fairbanks
School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences (SFOS)
245 O’Neill Building
Fairbanks, AL 99775-7220
Phone: (907) 474-7824
Fax: (907) 474-7204
www.sfos.uaf.edu

University of California-Davis
Center for Animal Behavior
One Shields Avenue
University of California
Davis, CA 95616
Phone: (530) 752-4863
Fax: (530) 752-8391
gradstudies.ucdavis.edu/programs/ganb

University of California-Santa Cruz
Long Marine Lab

Seymour Marine Discovery Center
100 McAllister Way
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Phone: (831) 459-3799
https://seymourcenter.ucsc.edu/
marine-science/institute-of-marine
-sciences-long-marine-lab-ucsc/

California State University
Moss Landing Marine Laboratories
8272 Moss Landing Rd.
Moss Landing, CA 95039
Phone: (831) 632-4400
Fax: (831) 632-4403
www.mlml.calstate.edu

College of the Atlantic
105 Eden Street
Bar Harbor, ME 04609
Phone: (800) 528-0025 / (207) 288-5015
Fax: (207) 288-4126
www.coa.edu

The College of William and Mary
School of Marine Science 
Virginia Institute of Marine Science
PO Box 8795
Gloucester Point, VA 23062-1346
Phone: (804) 684-7105
Fax: (804) 684-7097
www.vims.edu/sms

Cornell University
Shoals Marine Lab
G14 Stimson Hall
Ithaca, NY 14853
Phone: (607) 255-3717
Fax: (607) 255-0742
www.sml.cornell.edu

Dalhousie University
Department of Oceanography
1355 Oxford St.
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
B3H 4J1
Phone: (902) 494-3557
Fax: (902) 494-3877
www.dal.ca/faculty/science/
oceanography.html

University of Delaware
Office of the Dean
Graduate College of Marine Studies
Robinson Hall
Newark, DE 19716-3501
Phone: (302) 831-2841
Fax: (302) 831-4389
www.ocean.udel.edu

Duke University Marine Laboratory
Nicholas School of the Environment
Marine Laboratory
135 Duke Marine Lab Road
Beaufort, NC 28516-9721
Phone: (252) 504-7503
Fax: (252) 504-7648
nicholas.duke.edu/marinelab/

Eckerd College
4200 54th Avenue South
St. Petersburg, FL 33711
Phone: (800) 456-9009 (727) 867-1166
www.eckerd.edu

University of Florida
Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
7922 NW 71st St.
Gainsville, FL 32653
Fax: (352) 846-1088
sfrc.ufl.edu/fish/

Florida Atlantic University
Department of Ocean Engineering
Sea Tech Campus
777 Glades Road
101 North Beach Rd.
Boca Raton, FL 33431
Dania Beach, FL 33004
Phone: (561) 297-3430
Phone: (954) 924-7000
Fax: (561) 297-3885
Fax: (954) 924-7007
www.oe.fau.edu

Florida Institute of Technology
150 West University Blvd.
Melbourne, FL 32901-6975
Phone: (321) 674-8000
(800) 888-4348
www.fit.edu

Florida International University
College of Arts and Sciences
Deuxieme Maison, DM 445
Phone: (305) 348-2202
Fax: (305) 348-4172
http://biology.fiu.edu/

Florida State University
Department of Oceanography
329 OSB, West Call Street
Tallahassee, FL
32306-4320
Phone: (850) 644-6700
Fax: (850) 644-2581
https://www.research.fsu.edu/research-offices/
marine-and-coastal-research/undergraduate-
and-graduate-studies/

The University of Georgia Marine Institute
Education Program Specialist
Sapelo Island, GA 31327
Phone: (912) 485-2125
www.uga.edu/ugami

Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution
5600 US Highway 1 North
Ft. Pierce, FL 34946
Phone: (561) 465-2400
Fax: (561) 465-2446
http://www.fau.edu/hboi/

University of Hawaii at Manoa
The Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology
PO Box 1346
Kaneohe, HI 96744
Phone: (808) 236-7401
Fax: (808) 236-7443
www.hawaii.edu/HIMB

University of Maine
Dr, Bruce Sidell, Director
School of Marine Sciences
218 Libby Hall
Orono, ME 04469-5741
Phone: (207) 581-4381
Fax: (207) 581-4388
www.umaine.edu/marine/

University of Massachusetts
Center for Marine Science and Technology
706 Rodney French Blvd.
New Bedford, MA 02744
Phone: (508) 999-8193
Fax: (508) 999-8197
www.massachusetts.edu

Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Program in Atmospheres, Oceans, and Climate
Room 54-910
Cambridge, MA 02139
paocweb.mit.edu/

University of Miami
Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science
Division of Marine Biology and Fisheries
4600 Rickenbacker Causeway
Miami, FL 33149-1098
Phone: (305) 361-4000
Fax: (305) 361-4711
www.rsmas.miami.edu

The Naval Postgraduate School
1 University Circle
Monterey, CA 93943-5001
(831) 656-2441/2
DSN 878-2441/2
https://my.nps.edu/web/oceanography

University of New Hampshire
College of Life Sciences and Agriculture
Durham, NH 03824
Phone: (603) 629-4150
www.colsa.unh.edu

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Department of Marine Sciences
12-7 Venable Hall, CB #3300
University of North Carolina
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3300
Phone: (919) 962-1252
Fax: (919) 962-1254
www.marine.unc.edu

Northeastern University
Marine Science Center
East Point, Nahant, MA 01908
Phone: (781) 581-7370
Fax: (781) 581-6076
https://cos.northeastern.edu/marinescience/

Nova Southeastern University
NSU Oceanographic Center
8000 North Ocean Dr.
Dania Beach, FL 33004
Phone: (800) 39-OCEAN
Fax: (954) 262-3600
www.nova.edu/ocean

Old Dominion University
Department of Ocean, Earth,
and Atmospheric Sciences
Phone: (757) 683-4376
Fax: (757) 683-5303
www.odu.edu/oeas

Oregon State University
College of Science
128 Kidder Hall
Corvallis, OR 97331-4608
Phone: (541) 737-4811
Fax: (541) 737-1009
www.osu.orst.edu/dept/science

Orange Coast College
Marine Science Department
2701 Fairview Rd.
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Phone: (714) 432-5564
http://www.orangecoastcollege.edu/
academics/divisions/math_science/
marine_science/Pages/default.aspx

Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata
Departamento de Ciencias Marinas
Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Y Naturales
Fundacion Mundo Marino
Casilla de Correi N6
7105 San Clemente del Tuyu ARGENTINA
Phone: (54) 252-21071
www.mdp.edu.ar

University of Queensland
The Centre for Marine Science
BRISBANE Qld 4072
Australia
Phone: (617) 3365-4333
Fax: (617) 3365-4755
www.marine.uq.edu.au

University of Rhode Island
Graduate School of Oceanography
Academic Affairs Office
URI Bay Campus, Box 43
Narragansett, RI 02882-1197
Phone: (401) 874-6246
Fax: (401) 874-6889
www.gso.uri.edu

Roger Williams University
Department of Biology and Marine Biology
Feinstein College of Arts and Sciences
One Old Ferry Road
Bristol, RI 02809
Phone: (800) 458-7144
rwu.edu/academics/schools-colleges/
fcas/dbmbes

Rutgers University
Institute of Marine and Coastal Science
P. O. Box 231
College Farm and Dudley Road
New Brunswick, NJ 08903
Phone: (908) 932-6555
www.marine.rutgers.edu

San Diego State University
Cetacean Behavior Lab
Psychology Department
San Diego, CA 92182
Phone: (619) 594-5649
Fax: (619) 594-1332
www.sci.sdsu.edu/cbl/

Scripps Institute of Oceanography
SIO Graduate Department
University of California of San Diego
9500 Gilman Drive
La Jolla, CA 92093
Phone: (858) 534-1694
www.sio.ucsd.edu

Smith College
Five College Coastal and Marine Sciences
Northhampton, MA 01063
Phone: (413) 585-3799
www.fivecolleges.edu/marine

The University of South Carolina
Belle W. Baruch Institute for Marine Biology
and Coastal Research
Columbia, SC 29208
Phone: (803) 777-5288
Fax: (803) 777-3935
www.baruch.sc.edu/contact-us

University of Southern Mississippi
Bldg 1103, Room 102
Stennis Space Center, MS 39529
Phone: (228) 688-3177
(800) 644-4207
Fax: (228) 688-1121
https://www.usm.edu/marine

Stanford University
Hopkins Marine Station
Oceanview Blvd.
Pacific Grove, CA 93950-3094
Phone: (831) 655-6200
Fax: (831) 375-0793
hopkinsmarinestation.stanford.edu/

University of Tampa
Department of Biology
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
401 W. Kennedy Blvd.
Tampa, FL 33606-1490
Phone: (800) 733-4773 / (813) 253-3333
www.ut.edu/academics/

The University of Texas
Marine Science Institute
750 Channel View Drive
Port Aransas, TX 78373-5015
Phone: (361) 749-6711
Fax: (361) 749-6777
www.utmsi.utexas.edu

Texas A&M University
Galveston Campus
MM Research Program
4700 Avenue U, Bldg. 303
Galveston, TX 77551
Phone: (409) 740-4718
Fax: (409) 740-4717
www.tamug.edu/mmbeg

University of Washington
College of Ocean and Fishery Sciences
1492 NE Boat St.
Box 355840
Seattle, WA 98195-5350
Phone: (206) 543-6605
Fax: (206) 543-6393
https://fish.uw.edu/

University of West Florida
College of Arts and Sciences
11000 University Parkway
Pensacola, FL 32514
Phone: (850) 474-2000
www.uwf.edu/cas

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Information Office
Co-op Building, MS #16
Woods Hole, MA 02543
Phone: (508) 548-1400
Fax: (508) 457-2034
www.whoi.edu/home

 

 
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Training Careers

Training Careers

Thank you for your interest in careers related to marine mammal training. If you are interested in marine mammals, there are many career paths you can choose to work with them or for them. Due to an overwhelming interest in training, we have created this guide to answer many of the most commonly asked questions about how to become a trainer. Of course, the responsibilities of being a trainer and the requirements to become a trainer vary from facility to facility. We have focused our responses on training at Dolphin Research Center. Good luck with your future training career!

How should I prepare educationally for my training career?

It’s never too early to start preparing for your training career. While in middle and high school, you can gain valuable knowledge and experiences in the field of biology. You will need lots of math and science classes to gain a strong background for college. Many trainers pursue degrees in Biology, Marine Biology, Psychology, or Animal Behavior in college.

In 2012, Dolphin Research Center established the Dolphin Research Training Institute (DRCTI).  We offer a hybrid (online and onsite) program called Dolphin Academy for those looking to pursue a career in animal training. Find out more about our programs.  

Moorpark College in California focuses on exotic animal training in a two-year program. The school is extremely hands-on, and graduates have a great success rate of employment. Please bear in mind, however, that some marine mammal facilities require a four-year degree for employment.

The college you choose will depend on your interests. You must first decide the area in which you would like to major. Your library will have a book of colleges to help you determine the schools in the U.S. that offer your intended major. Look for schools that offer biology or animal behavior and psychology majors. You can then look at the size, location, and cost of the listed colleges to help you narrow down your choices. We have a list of colleges and universities in Florida on our website (www.dolphins.org) that offer biology majors. Look under the section “Marine Education/Career Information/Schools and Universities”.

Once you find your top choices, you should try to visit the schools to see if they meet your needs. Talk to both faculty and students to learn about the positive and negative aspects of the school. If possible try to spend a night with a current student in your future major and attend at least one or two classes. Also, make sure the professors in your department will be supportive of your future career and will be able to assist you in achieving your goals. The school career centers also have helpful resources for students, so you may want to see what your potential schools have to offer their graduates.

What other skills do I need to be a trainer?

Every facility has a different philosophy and mission and therefore looks for different skills in their employees. At many dolphin facilities, public speaking skills will be very important. Take classes that will advance your public speaking skills and knowledge of the animals and environment in which you will be working. Physical fitness is also important and because you will be working in an aquatic environment, swimming skills will be required. Many facilities required a swim test before you will be hired. Additionally, you should become SCUBA certified since some facilities only hire trainers if they are SCUBA certified.

Should I volunteer or intern?

Yes! It can be quite difficult to get your foot in the door of a marine mammal facility. The best way to gain valuable hands-on experience is to complete volunteer work or an internship at a facility that has animals (they don’t necessarily have to be dolphins). Many colleges require or strongly advise these programs because they enable you to learn while in the field. They also help you to determine whether or not you want to continue to pursue a training career. People often have a glorified image of marine mammal training and do not realize the hard work and dedication it takes to succeed in the field. DRC offers both volunteer and intern programs for individuals 18 and over. You can find information about our programs in the Volunteer/Intern area of this website. *Roughly one-quarter of DRC’s staff participated in our volunteer program before being hired as employees. Many facilities look highly upon the dedication and commitment necessary to be a volunteer*

Are there any programs to help me learn about training and dolphins?

Participation in programs like our week-long DolphinLab can be very helpful. DolphinLab introduces you to the overall operation of a marine mammal facility and educates you about topics such as training, husbandry, physiology, maternity, stranding, conservation, research, and more. This program also lets you get up close and personal with the dolphins through swims and dock time. DolphinLab exposes you to many different career opportunities in the marine mammal field and helps you to determine your area of interest. You can find more information about DolphinLab on our web page. We hope to see you soon!

What are the average salary and benefits of a trainer? The average salary of a trainer varies from one facility to another but is often in the $18,000-$20,000 range for an entry-level position. Most trainers have a second source of income to supplement their salary.

Higher salaries are often given to people with multiple years of experience; on average a trainer with 8-12 years of experience will make $25,000 - $40,000 a year. Most facilities usually offer medical plans to full-time staff members. Of course, the greatest benefit is the relationship you form with the animals!

What is a typical day like being a dolphin trainer?

Only dependable people can be successful trainers. Trainers are responsible for preparing meals, feeding, training, and cleaning fish containers. The dolphins and trainers have training sessions each day, which are both mentally and physically stimulating. All of the dolphins receive at least three meals a day – usually a feeding in the morning, midday and afternoon. Trainers also make sure that all of our animals receive their vitamins and any necessary medications. The dolphins also practice medical behaviors with their trainers, and each dolphin has a physical twice a year. As a trainer, you need to show a great deal of enthusiasm and energy to keep the dolphins excited and interested. Trainers may continue to work on behaviors that have already been taught to the dolphins or they may have the opportunity (after they have gained much experience) to train a dolphin a new behavior. Each day brings something new to a trainer’s schedule. Life is never dull when you are a dolphin trainer!

What are the positive and negative aspects of your job?

Of course, there are drawbacks to working with animals. Being a trainer means you will have to maintain the animals’ living environment, which includes cleaning animals’ homes. This can be difficult and tiresome work. At many facilities, you will also be outside a great deal during the hot summer months. You are working with dynamic animals, so you need to be flexible to their schedule, which may mean long, irregular hours. Trainers often work on holidays because the dolphins still need to be provided with care no matter what day it is. There are many positive aspects of being a trainer, which include the relationships you build with the individual animals. On a daily basis, you get to work with animals who all have their own unique dolphinalities (personalities). You also have the chance to work closely with a team of other trainers and to support each other in your progress with the animals.

How long does it take before I get to work with the animals?

When you start at a facility, you will probably shadow (follow) senior trainers a great deal to become more familiar with the characteristics of each dolphin and to learn different training procedures. You may then start to feed and interact with a dolphin under the supervision of senior trainers. Eventually, the trainers will teach you to communicate with the dolphins through hand signals. As you grow and learn, you will gain more responsibilities with the animals. For example: training new behaviors, working on medical behaviors, or facilitating programs where the public interacts with the dolphins. Your growth rate will depend on past experiences, your comfort level, and confidence.

Do I need to be a trainer to work with animals?

If your goal is to have direct contact with marine mammals on a daily basis, then you would most likely need to become a trainer. If your character and skills are more suited for other careers in the field, then there are many other ways you can work in a marine mammal environment. Here are a few examples:

Educator: As an Education member, you teach seminars and lead workshops on a variety of marine mammal topics. Facilities teach with live marine animals and sometimes bring them into the classroom for hands-on education. As a DRC educator, you focus on our week-long program called DolphinLab. We also respond to requests for information from the public, visit schools and community organizations for outreach programs, and create exciting classroom activities.

Veterinarian: As a marine mammal veterinarian, you are responsible for the care and health of the animals. You will assist with medical procedures and check-ups. You will assess their needs and monitor their diets, vitamins, and medicine. You may have a private practice for domestic animals and be affiliated with a facility that has dolphins or sea lions.

Researcher: As a researcher, you will conduct a variety of studies often relating to dolphin intelligence, communication, and physiology. You may conduct these studies with dolphins in human care or in the wild depending on your research question. Your work is typically supported by grant money that you will have to solicit in competition with other researchers. You are often responsible for publishing your results. If you would like to conduct your own research, a doctorate degree is necessary to succeed in this field. If you would like to assist other researchers, an undergraduate degree is required.

Husbandry Expert: As a husbandry expert your job is to supervise the preparation of the animals’ food and vitamins, and to order the food supply. This job requires a great deal of physical work because it involves the maintenance of the fish supply and the sanitation of the marine mammal kitchen. This area needs to be clean enough so you could eat off the floor! You need to pay attention to detail to make sure your fish supply is of the highest quality. You can take pride in the fact that you are directly responsible for maintaining a healthy diet for the animals.

We have listed a few of the many career options that are available at a marine mammal facility. Look for opportunities in management, media, marketing, accounting, human resources, program development, computer programming, ground and tank maintenance, customer service, photographers, videographers, dolphin-assisted therapy, medical, and much more.

What books or references would help me to find out more about training and other careers in the marine mammal field?

“Careers in Marine Biology”, Jay Hemdal (freshwater and Marine Aquarium, Vol 10, Feb. 1987, pg. 66-67).

“Don’t Shoot the Dog”, Karen Pryor (Bantam Books, 1999).

“I’ll do Anything to Work with Whales or Dolphins!”, Valerie Chase (Current, 1992, 11 (1): 31-33).

“Training and Careers in Marine Science: An Information Packet” 
Available for a small fee from: 
International Oceanographic Foundation 
4600 Rickenbacker Causeway 
Miami, FL 33149

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Our Mission - Through education, research and rescue, Dolphin Research Center promotes peaceful coexistence, cooperation and communication between marine mammals, humans and the environment we share with the well being of DRC's animals taking precedence.
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