YEI-31306 Trends in Aquaculture

Course

Credits 6.00

Language of instruction:

English.

Assumed knowledge on:

Marine Systems, Life history of Aquatic Organism.

Contents:

Future growth of fish supplies to meet the demands of the growing world population will have to come from aquaculture. The development strategies which the sector must follow to realize this challenge, depend on a combination of concerns over global food security, environmental sustainability, economic efficiency, international trade and technological development. Understanding the relationship between these drivers requires an understanding of the biological and technical possibilities of aquaculture as well as the globalised context within which the sector develops. This course examines this development by introducing students to different types of aquaculture production systems considering technologies, scales and species, components of the aquaculture value chain, and the environmental, social, and economic implications which interfere with the possibilities for growth of the sector. Three credits will be spent to explain biological and technical possibilities and limits of organisms or communities in man-made aquatic ecosystem managed for production. This will help to understand or even predict societal concerns, including pollution and animal welfare or food safety issues. The other 3 credits will explore consequences on the economic position in the sector and options to address these concerns considering possible frameworks of private and governmental regulations. Subsequently, we explore how these regulations, trade and business considerations drive decisions on the growth directions in the sector. In addition students will be required to develop their own species related case study through which they will explore the comparisons and interactions between farm types, cultured species and the mentioned environmental, social and economic implications.

Learning outcomes:

After successful completion of this course students are expected to be able to:
- identify some key technical, social, and economic developments, bottlenecks and future challenges in the aquaculture industry;
- identify and explain important technical and biological attributes of aquaculture production systems, including among others nursing and grow-out, feed and pollution issues;
- identify and evaluate the main regulatory, trade and economic drivers that shape the development of aquaculture as a global industry;
- develop a vision on the future development of specific aquaculture species and production systems by integrating technological, economic and social aspects.

Activities:

Lectures, tutorials and practicals.

Examination:

The final grade will be determined on the basis of a weighted total of the species portfolio assignments (40%), the theme presentation (20%) and the individual synthesis assignment (40%). All assessments will be marked out of 10. To pass the course you must get at least 5.5 on each of the tasks.

Literature:

Available through Blackboard.