Ocean Conservancy Internships: Charting a Course for a Career in Marine Conservation

For individuals passionate about safeguarding marine ecosystems and eager to contribute to a healthier ocean, internships with ocean conservancy organizations offer invaluable opportunities. These programs provide hands-on experience, skill development, and networking prospects within the marine conservation field. This article explores a range of ocean conservancy internships, highlighting their unique features and benefits.

The Value of Ocean Conservancy Internships

An internship is a valuable step for developing skills in a chosen area. Internships offer on-the-job training and develop key skills. They are a step closer to working as an employee for an organization than volunteering. Interns are often full-time for a fixed-term employment period. These internships allow participants to apply their knowledge and skills in real-world settings, working closely with professionals in marine science and policy.

Diverse Internship Opportunities

Several organizations offer internships focused on ocean conservation, each with a unique mission and approach. These internships cater to a variety of interests and skill sets, providing opportunities to engage in diverse aspects of marine conservation.

North Carolina Coastal Federation

The North Carolina Coastal Federation, a member-supported, nonprofit environmental organization committed to protecting and restoring the North Carolina coast, offers several exciting opportunities for students. Interns work alongside dedicated professional staff, engaging in coastal policy and advocacy, coastal habitat protection and restoration, environmental education, and community collaboration. Interns also learn about nonprofit management, including public relations, strategic planning, marketing, board of directors management, communications, fundraising, and nonprofit governance.

A key deliverable for this internship will be assisting with a special project involving compiling research and communication materials about the Federation’s advocacy history, policy efforts, and resources.

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Coastal Policy and Restoration Internship

This internship takes place in the Coastal Federation’s Headquarters office in Ocean, North Carolina. Interns spend 12 weeks during the summer, typically from mid-May through the end of July or the first week of August. This hands-on program introduces participants to local, state, and national coastal policy and management. It also provides outdoor opportunities for habitat and water quality restoration. Activities range from planting a living shoreline and bagging oyster shells for habitat to building a rain garden to reduce polluted stormwater runoff. The internship includes guest presentations and site visits with local, state, and federal officials, private industry, and academia, such as three local university marine labs and a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration facility.

Internship objectives include:

Learning about important coastal environmental issues and the key priority goals of the Coastal Federation.
Understanding coastal management policy and implementation at the federal, state, and local levels, and applying research skills to timely coastal issues.
Learning about the roles of science, law, politics, and media relations in coastal advocacy, effective public participation models, and engagement strategies, and applying research skills to timely coastal issues.
Experiencing the natural coast and understanding the Coastal Federation’s protection and restoration work by engaging in a variety of field projects and site visits.
Learning key steps for managing and operating a nonprofit (membership and board development, use of volunteers, staffing, accounting, grant writing, and communications).
Collaborating on key coastal issues to help advance the work of the Coastal Federation by working with fellow interns on group assignments.

Nonprofit Internship Program

The Southern Branch of the North Carolina Coastal Federation in Wrightsville Beach offers a Nonprofit Internship Program. This opportunity is perfect for college students who want a chance to try out nonprofit work.

Eligibility includes being a North Carolina native/resident at an accredited four-year college or university in the United States (the college/university can be in or outside of NC). You must be a rising sophomore, junior, or senior. Current seniors set to graduate in the spring or summer of the internship year are not eligible, nor are graduate students. You must also be Pell Grant eligible in the academic year in which you apply.

Marine Debris Program Internship

In partnership with Cape Fear Community College through the Marine Technology Program, and supported by the NOAA Marine Debris Program, this internship is based out of the southeast region office in Wrightsville Beach. Interns spend 12 weeks of the summer working alongside staff. This hands-on program introduces participants to the Federation’s efforts to prevent, reduce, remove, recycle, and dispose of large-scale marine debris, Abandoned and Derelict Vessels (ADVs), and Derelict Fishing Gear (DFG). The intern will gain experience working alongside specialized ADV removal contractors and disposal experts, and commercial fishers collecting and removing 2,000 lbs. of debris by hand each day from marshes, beaches, and waterways. The students will also experience working with partner agencies, priority community members, and local governments to gain policy, logistics, and regulatory skills. The intern will also work on a special project during the internship, which may include compiling practical guides, manuals, or outreach products. Interns receive a taxable stipend of $8,600 divided into three equal payments at the end of each month/4 weeks of the internship.

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Eligibility includes being a North Carolina native/resident attending Cape Fear Community College and enrolled in the Marine Technology Program. You must be completing your second and final year of study in the spring or summer of the internship year. You must also be Pell Grant eligible in the academic year in which you apply for the internship. DACA and undocumented students are eligible to apply.

Ocean Conservancy

Ocean Conservancy unites science, people, and policy to inspire global action to protect our ocean. The organization builds coalitions, mobilizes people, and develops and advocates for evidence-based solutions to secure a healthy ocean and a thriving planet for generations to come.

Dana Wolfe Memorial Legal Intern

Ocean Conservancy seeks a legal intern to serve as their Dana Wolfe Memorial Legal Intern. This is a 40-hour per week working internship for rising second- or third-year law students spanning approximately 10 to 12 weeks. Interns may work remotely from select states or may work from an established Ocean Conservancy office.

This position will provide the legal intern with a broad array of experience on environmental and marine legal issues. Work will focus on marine conservation issues nationwide and may include programmatic topics such as water quality regulation, marine debris interventions, offshore renewable energy, offshore oil and gas, climate change, fish conservation, or protection of the Arctic Ocean or the Florida environment.

The intern may research and analyze applicable ocean conservation and management laws, regulations, and policies to support program work. The intern may also track legislative changes and trends, draft legal memos, and aid in the legal guidance of the organization.

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Ideal candidates are able to work in a fast-paced environment with minimal supervision and be able to handle multiple projects and tasks simultaneously. The preferred candidate is detail-oriented, creative, articulate, personable, and self-confident with good interpersonal, organizational, research, and communication skills. Candidates must be enrolled in an accredited law school pursuing a juris doctor degree. This full-time, short-term, non-exempt position pays a rate of $25 an hour.

Marine Conservation Institute

Marine Conservation Institute is a non-profit conservation advocacy organization that has been working since 1996 to protect and restore marine biodiversity. From offices in Seattle, WA and Glen Ellen, CA, they advocate for strong marine protection, measure progress toward international conservation goals, conduct policy research to frame the marine conservation agenda, lead educational outreach efforts, and build partnerships with scientists and organizations to solve problems affecting marine life and coastal communities. The internship program provides motivated students and recent graduates with an opportunity to apply their knowledge and skills while gaining hands-on experience in a real-world setting.

Science interns have an opportunity to train closely with science staff to research a specific marine conservation topic. Previous science interns have assisted projects such as: Blue Parks, High Seas Gems project, habitat conservation assessments for National Marine Sanctuaries, and assisting with the Marine Protection Atlas. Working remotely, communications interns have the opportunity to train with the Communications Manager to gain important skills in conservation communications.

Ocean Institute

The Ocean Institute offers summer internships where interns spend the summer working as members of the OI staff and volunteer team, serving as an interpreter for the exhibits, displays, and activities available for guests. Interns are expected to become familiar with the facility and campus, the organization and our mission, and the qualities of an Ocean Institute ambassador. There are two trainings that all interns must attend, and a specialized training based on their intern role.

At Sea Weekend Interns serve as an interpreter for temporary themed activities provided, engage guest interactions and learning, as well set up/cleanup the activities and gauge the inventory of supplies. Sahm Weekend Interns serve as an interpreter for permanent tank displays and themed activities provided, as well as setup/cleanup the activities and gauge the inventory of supplies.

Interns provide educational tours of three varieties: Snake Talks, Behind-the-Scenes: Aquarium Tours, and Sailor’s Life Tours. Interns will lead the tours and perform various duties, including, but not limited to, escorting groups around campus, sharing knowledge based on the tour, engaging communication, and being flexible and organized.

Global Ghost Gear Initiative (GGGI)

The Global Ghost Gear Initiative (GGGI) is a cross-sectoral alliance addressing abandoned, lost, and otherwise discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) or “ghost gear” worldwide. Through the collective impact of its members, the GGGI aims to mitigate the ecological and economic impacts of ghost gear. The GGGI serves as a global clearinghouse for information on ALDFG; informs specific plans, strategies, and policies to prevent and reduce ALDFG; and catalyzes practical and replicable solutions for on-the-ground and in-the-water removal and prevention of ghost gear.

The GGGI also works with governments and multilateral organizations around the world to elevate the issue of ghost gear on the global agenda and inspire international action.

Other Organizations Offering Internships

Numerous other organizations provide internships in ocean conservation, including:

British Ecological Society: Offers a Policy Internship for developing skills in science communication, policy awareness, and event management.
Earthwatch: Offers research expeditions and occasionally internships at their Boston, MA, USA office.
Ecoteer: Offers unpaid internships with a focus on marine biology and conservation in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo.
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN): Offers internships related to conservation.
Kupu: Provides hands-on training in conservation, sustainability, and environmental education for young adults in Hawaiʻi and the Pacific region.
National Wildlife Federation: Offers Fellowships for students and recent graduates to work on various aspects of conservation.
The Nature Conservancy: Offers internships for high school, undergraduate, and graduate students, focusing on various conservation projects.
RSPB: Provides long-term residential volunteering opportunities for gaining experience in conservation.
Seal Rescue Ireland (SRI): Offers seasonal internships at their marine animal rescue and rehabilitation center.
Sea Watch Foundation: Offers Research Internships involving public participation in scientific monitoring of whale and dolphin populations.
The School for Field Studies (SFS): Offers programs based in locations grappling with critical environmental issues.
Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI): Offers internships for undergraduates, recent graduates, and Master’s students to work with scientists on tropical ecosystem research in Panama.
The Wildlife Trusts: Offers a range of conservation internships and training programs for budding conservationists.
WINGS: Offers paid and unpaid internships in Education, Public Policy, Development, Science, and Land Stewardship.
Zoological Society of London (ZSL): Posts regular calls for internships related to conservation science.
NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration): Offers internships, fellowships, and scholarships for students studying science and the environment.
GVI: Offers virtual internships and in-country internships with project work, mentorship, and online courses.

Key Skills and Benefits

Internships in ocean conservancy provide a multitude of benefits, including:

Skill Development: Interns develop practical skills in areas such as coastal policy, habitat restoration, data collection, research, community engagement, and nonprofit management.
Networking: Internships offer opportunities to connect with professionals in the field, including scientists, policymakers, and conservationists.
Real-World Experience: Interns gain hands-on experience working on real-world conservation projects, contributing to meaningful environmental impact.
Career Advancement: Internships can serve as a stepping stone to a career in marine conservation, providing valuable experience and connections.
Personal Growth: Interns develop a deeper understanding of ocean conservation issues and a stronger commitment to protecting marine ecosystems.

How to Find and Apply for Internships

Finding the right internship requires research and preparation. Here are some steps to take:

Identify Your Interests: Determine which aspects of ocean conservation interest you most, such as policy, research, education, or restoration.
Research Organizations: Explore the websites of ocean conservancy organizations to learn about their missions, programs, and internship opportunities.
Check Eligibility Requirements: Carefully review the eligibility criteria for each internship, including academic qualifications, residency requirements, and Pell Grant eligibility.
Prepare Your Application: Craft a compelling cover letter and resume that highlight your relevant skills, experience, and passion for ocean conservation.
Submit Your Application: Follow the application instructions and submit your materials by the deadline.
Network: Attend conferences, workshops, and other events to connect with professionals in the field and learn about internship opportunities.

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