A marine studies degree is not a detour. It is a different kind of entry point, and for someone with a six-year hobby in fish identification, the question is not whether a BA can open the door, but which door you are willing to walk through. The original poster is doing the right thing by separating the label of the degree from the skills they intend to build. A BA in marine studies, especially one that includes the humanities, is not a weaker version of a BS. It is a different instrument. The real question is whether the instrument can be tuned to the work of population monitoring and species identification. It can, but only with deliberate calibration.
The anxiety about a BA versus a BS is understandable, but it is often overstated by people who have never sat in a hiring meeting. What matters is the evidence you can present. A degree is a starting line, not a ceiling. In this field, your ability to identify a fish from a photo, a fin clip, or a trawl sample is a skill that can be demonstrated. The related article on Unidentified Specimen Found in Oahu Waters Sparks Ocean Data Inquiry is a useful reminder that even professionals encounter unknowns. The work is not about having all the answers; it is about having a rigorous method for finding them. A BA does not prevent you from learning that method. It might even give you a better sense of why the method matters, because you have spent time in the messy, interpretive space of the humanities.
The practical pathway is a master's degree. That is where the BA becomes a bridge rather than a barrier. Many graduate programs in marine biology accept students from interdisciplinary backgrounds, provided they have taken the necessary science prerequisites and can demonstrate field or lab experience. The poster's instinct to minor in anthropology is not a distraction; it is an asset. Understanding human behavior, coastal communities, and the cultural context of fishing practices is increasingly relevant to conservation work. The related article on Do Fish Experience Cold, or Simply Temperature Change? shows that even basic questions about fish biology are still being asked, and answering them often requires a blend of physiology, observation, and a willingness to challenge assumptions. That is not a purely scientific skill set. It is a human one.
What we would tell this reader directly is this: do not wait for permission to be a marine biologist. The title is earned through work, not granted by a degree code. Focus on building a portfolio of identified species, seek out volunteer opportunities with fisheries or research labs, and take the most rigorous science electives available to you. The BA is not the disadvantage you fear. The disadvantage would be ignoring the interdisciplinary strength you are building. The Exploring North Wind Group: A Look at Marine Mammal Care Opportunities post highlights that even care roles often require a mix of practical experience and academic grounding. The same logic applies here. Your path is feasible. It is not straight, and it will require you to be strategic. But the person who can identify a fish and explain why it matters to a community is not just employable. They are essential.