autumn 2018
BIO-3556 Fishery Biology and Harvest Technology - 10 ECTS

Application deadline

Applicants from Nordic countries: 1 June for the autumn semester and 1 December for the spring semester. Applicants from outside the Nordic countries: 1 October for the spring semester and 15 April for the autumn semester.

Type of course

This subject is obligatory in the Master's programme in International Fisheries Management" (IFM). The course can also be taken as a singular course

Admission requirements

Application code: 9371 Entrance requirements as for the M.Sc.programme in International Fishery Management.

Course overlap

If you pass the examination in this course, you will get an reduction in credits (as stated below), if you previously have passed the following courses:

BIO-3558 Fish Ecology and Harvest Technology 2 stp
MTE-2001 Harvest technology in Norwegian marine fisheries 5 stp
FSK-2008 Harvest technology in Norwegian marine fisheries 5 stp

Course content

Fishery biology deals with worldwide fisheries, value-chains and ecological research. We focus on traditional methods to investigate exploited organisms, such as determination of population parameters and field work for direct estimation of fish density. The concept of a fishery model is introduced, and we adapt this theory to widely diverse species, fisheries and level of information available. This helps us making simple quantitative predictions of the suitability of different exploitation regimes. Harvest technology deals with a general description of the most common fishing methods and a brief description of the vessel technology used in different parts of the world. We deal with fish behavior, operation methods, basics on the selective fisheries, fish detection and density estimation with hydro-acoustics during ecosystem surveys. New developments in the pursuit of energy efficient and environmentally adequ¿ate gear, by-catch reduction, and user-friendly technology, are addressed.  These developments include also capture-based aquaculture. We give, in addition, a brief introduction to the monitoring, control and enforcement of technical measures in regulated capture fisheries.

Objectives of the course

Objective of the course

Intended learning outcomes

Knowledge:

  • Describes international fisheries and value chains
  • Explains biology of exploited organisms and the relation to their environment
  • Computes different estimates of production potential of fish population
  • Illustrates gear and vessel technology used for different species and environments
  • Considers fish behavior and gear operation for increased efficiency and catch quality
  • Recognizes how to monitor and control different technical regulations in fisheries

Skills:

  • Uses computers for basic calculations and fisheries modeling
  • Performs basic fieldwork and sampling in the marine environment
  • Rehearses presentation and reporting skills
  • Engages in self-study and organization

General competences:

  • Is acquainted with diverse fisheries and aquatic value chains worldwide
  • Has familiarity with simple research methods and advice given by fishery scientists
  • Has elementary ability to participate in multi-disciplinary teams dealing with natural resources.

Language of instruction and examination

The language of instruction and all syllabus material is English.

Teaching methods

Lectures, seminars, practical labs and research cruise. A major component of learning in this course is self-study of basic concepts.

Assessment

Written exam, 4 hours. The grading scale is A-F, where A-E is passed, and F is failed.

Work requirements: Students have to submit one field report after the research cruise.

A re-sit exam is arranged in the next semester.


Recommended reading/syllabus

For Fisheries biology:

  • King, M., Fisheries Biology, Assessment and Management. 2nd ed. 2007, Oxford, UK: Blackwell Publishing.
  • Closs, G., B. Downes and A. Boulton, Freshwater ecology : a scientific introduction. 2004. Blackwell Publ., Malden, Mass.Closs
  • Santos, J. 2015. FI¿H IT 1.0 - A training system for aquatic resource managers
  • http://septentrio.uit.no/index.php/SapEdu/issue/view/302/showToc (Focus on the exercises from this manual that are used in the data labs.)
  • Seminars and hand-outs delivered by students on oceanography, limnology and biology of exploited organisms Preparatory readings in mathematics

For Harvest technology:

  • Fish Catching methods of the World. Eds., O Gabriel, K Lange, E Dahm & T Wendt, 2005. Blackwell Publishing, Oxford, Chapters: 8,9,13,16, 19,20,25,26,27,29,29,31 and 32.
  • Hydro acoustic fish abundance estimation. K Olsen & R Jørgensen, 2006, (2007 modified/translated to English by A Aglen, IMR)
  • Manual of methods of measuring the selectivity of towed fishing gears. D Wileman et al, 1996, ICES Coop Res Rep 215.
  • By-catch reducing trawls in the North East Atlantic fisheries- the contribution by the University of Tromsø. R Larsen, 2006.
  • Manual on writing a cruise report. R. Larsen
  • Lecture handouts*). R Larsen

Error rendering component

  • About the course
  • Campus: Tromsø |
  • ECTS: 10
  • Course code: BIO-3556
  • Tidligere år og semester for dette emnet