BIO409 Mariculture and the Environment
- ECTS Credits:
- 10
- Responsible department:
- Faculty of Engineering and Science
- Course Leaders:
-
- Ane Timenes Laugen
- Enrique Blanco Gonzalez
- Lecture Semester:
- Spring
- Teaching language:
- Norwegian/English
- Duration:
- 1 term
The course is connected to the following study programs
Teaching language
Norwegian/EnglishRecommended prerequisites
BIO404 Fisheries Oceanography, BIO407 Applied Fish Ecology and BIO405 Pollution of Coastal and Marine Ecosystems
Course contents
The course will emphasize the economic and social benefits of mariculture practices as well as their impact on marine ecosystems. Moreover, it will provide a general overview of mariculture, the interaction of cultured organisms with the marine ecosystem, and the development of new technologies to ensure seafood supply, animal welfare, and food safety. Through excursions to local mariculture facilities the students will learn operational processes, common rearing methods, daily routines, and how to perform environmental analyses in and around farms and facilities. Principles of circular economy will also be discussed.
Learning outcomes
After completing the course, the students will
-
know the principles of mariculture of different taxonomic groups and how to rear the main marine species produced in Norway
-
be familiar with broodstock management practices and daily hatchery routines
-
know common animal welfare issues in mariculture and their solutions
-
know the resource constraints, future prospects, and solutions for fish feed
-
know about new rearing technologies, biological processes, and environmental interactions taking place around mariculture facilities
-
understand the genetic impact on wild stocks through interbreeding with escaped farmed animals
-
be able to perform critical evaluations of mariculture facilities and their impact on the local environment
-
have acquired an overview of current challenges and future opportunities of the mariculture activities
-
be familiar with Norwegian legislation and regulations in relation to mariculture activities
-
be able to discuss the socioeconomic benefits and consequences of mariculture activities as well as stakeholder conflicts
Examination requirements
100 % attendance on all compulsory learning activities and approved compulsory assignments and reports.
More information about compulsory activities, assignments, and reports is given in Canvas by the start of the semester.
Teaching methods
Instruction is provided in the form of lectures, excursions to aquaculture facilities, field and lab work, writing assignments, and project work in the form of case studies. Instruction will be given in English, but if only Norwegian-speaking students attend, the teaching language will be Norwegian. Information will be given in Canvas at the start of the course. The estimated student workload in this course is 270 hours.
Evaluation
The person responsible for the course, in consultation with the student representative, decides the method of evaluation and whether the courses will have a midterm- or end of term evaluation, see also the Quality System, section 4.1. Information about evaluation method for the course will be posted on Canvas.
Offered as Single Standing Module
Yes. Subject to availability or capacity.Assessment methods and criteria
Portfolio including one individual writing assignment (30%), one group assignment (35%) and one written home exam (35 %). Graded assessment A-F.