Fish expert is called…

A fish expert is called an Ichthyologist. An Ichthyologist is classified as a marine biologists, and their main focus is the study of various fish species. A fish expert usually focuses on three categories of fish: bony, cartilaginous, and jaw-less.

What is a fish expert called? What does an Ichthyologist do?

Ichthyologists (or Fish Experts) mainly focus on 5 components of fish life: Fish genealogy, fish history, ecosystems, reproduction, and population trends. As of 2020, there have been over 28,000 different species of fish discovered on earth. Therefore, an ichthyologist’s job is never boring.  

The first ichthyologists date back to 1500 BC, when hunters and gatherers began tracking certain species of fish. In these early times, humans would try to fish for the species that had the largest ratio of mass to bones. Around this same time period, there are records that show humans began harvesting species of fish in order to increase their yield and feed their populations. 

How much do Ichthyologists make?

On average, an ichthyologist makes around $57,000 a year. They have a very cool line of work, as much of their work day is spend scuba diving and observing fish. They also spend significant time in laboratories testing samples that they collected. Fish experts work for a variety of different entities, including the government, universities, museums, and private businesses. 

How much school to become an Ichthyologist?

Most Ichthyologist get an undergraduate degree in marine biology. After that, they usually go to get their masters, or go directly to get field experience. The ichthyologists that have the highest salaries have a bachelors and masters degree with a substantial amount of field work.