Factfile

There are around people working in the marine resources sector, but fewer than 300 of these are marine scientists. Most of the 300 are employed by the Marine Institute and its various agencies. The next biggest employers are the universities followed by private industry.

Graduates within the public sector in a starting position as a lab technician earn in the region of £17,000. PhD graduates start on about £22,000. Salaries rise slowly and currently level off at a maximum of £35,000 to £45,000. Those going on into senior management can earn more but the current maximum for a divisional director is £50,000. Those ending up as consultants in private industry can earn higher salaries.

Those who don't get sufficient points for Marine Science in NUI Galway can study Aquaculture in Galway IT or Aquatic Science in Letterkenny IT and transfer to the NUI Galway, at the discretion of the university.