An Interview – Anaïs Martin

This week on ‘An Interview with WiseOceans’ we spoke with Anaïs Martin

Name: Anaïs Martin

Role: Marine Biologist and Educator 

Company: WiseOceans

Top Tip: Internships and voluntary positions can help you to gain crucial experience 

1. What inspired you to pursue a career in marine conservation? 

I always wanted to have a work that was meaningful to me. I didn’t know between paleontology or marine biology. It’s during my first internship in marine biology that I knew I wanted to work with marine conservation. It’s this passion that inspired me to work and have a career in this field work.

2. What steps did you take or are you currently taking to achieve your career goals?

I did many internships and volunteering to have experiences, and to have a better understanding about marine life and organisms. All these experiences brought me a lot of skills, knowledge, and motivation to pursue this goal.

3. How did you obtain your current position? 

I saw the hiring job position on social media. As soon as I saw it, I prepared my resume and a cover letter and applied.

4. Which part of your job do you enjoy the most?  

So far, I like all of them. I like the interactions with the guests and to see their interest in marine life. I also like the restoration project, to have a positive impact on the reef.

5. Are there aspects of your position which make you feel that you are really ‘making a difference’? 

All the tasks we are doing for the reef restoration project. To see all the new species coming in the sanctuary, to see coral recovery from a bleaching event.

6. What do you know now that you wish you knew when you were starting out?

All the fish species names!

7. Are there any skills you never thought you would need but did?

None that I can think of.

8. What advice would you give to budding marine conservationists?  

Always fight to reach your goals.

9. What is your favourite marine creature and why?

Not super original but sharks. They are fascinating creatures, they are feared, gracious, essential, and misunderstood.

10. What is your most unforgettable moment in the sea?

It was when I was diving for work, I was cleaning corals, when I turned myself, I saw a lemon shark next to me that was looking at what I was doing. When we eyed contact, it swam away. I felt a connexion with this shark and that one of the most unforgettable moments.