Institute of Aquaculture

Aquatic Environments (AQUP2F)

Dr Trevor Telfer

This module provides an overview of aquatic ecosystems with emphasis on physio-chemical processes, community structure and function. The relationships between aquaculture and the environment are explored, with particular reference to the dependency of aquaculture on environmental goods and services. The subjects covered are coastal and freshwater environments, environmental impacts of aquaculture and environmental risk assessment practices. In addition, there are two 'virtual' practical sessions. The first is based on sampling and analysing the aspects of effective site selction for environmental sustainability, based on an example from the West Coast of Scotland. The second is based on Howietoun Fisheries to investigate water quality of freshwater fish farming.

Learning Outcomes

• Recognise the relationship between aquaculture and the environment
• Assess and undertake basic measurement of the major impacts of aquaculture on the environment
• Apply the principles of appropriate site selection for the enhanced sustainability of aquaculture

Aquatic Animal Biology and Health (AQUP1F)

Prof Lindsay Ross

This module consists of two parts; theBiology and Physiology of cultured fish and invertebrates, followed by consideration of diseases and strategies to maintain health. Our overall objective is to present you with ideas about form, function, malfunction and aspects of husbandry and welfare which relate specifically to Aquaculture. The emphasis is placed on satisfying physiological and biological requirements in aquaculture, understanding energy flow and optimising culture conditions. The main viral, parasitic and fungal diseases of fish and shrimp and their diagnosis and treatment are reviewed. This module would be a useful starting point for those wishing to gain broad knowledge of the main components of aquatic animal biology and health.

Learning Outcomes

• Appreciate the diversity of the biology of cultured aquatic animals.
• Relate animal form to function, physiology and environment, and these in turn to a wide range of aspects of natural biology, husbandry, system design and system operation.
• Apply knowledge of the above to maintain the "comfort" of cultured animals and optimize growth efficiency and overall production.
• Apply practical anaesthesia and stress management.
• Appreciate the range of health and disease issues associated with aquaculture.
• Conduct the initial investigations of disease, and collect the samples and information necessary for obtaining a second opinion.

Aquatic Animal Nutrition & Food Safety (AQUP3F)

Dr Kim Jauncey

This module gives you the chance to gain understanding of the principles of aquatic animal nutrition. This module covers the major nutritional needs of aquatic animals and feeding needs over a number of different aquaculture systems ranging from extensive and semi-intensive pond systems to intensive re-circulating and cage aquaculture systems in both temperate and tropical climes. Feed formulation, manufacture and practical husbandry provide relevant background. Against a climate of increasing consumer concerns about food safety, we address this hot topic as well as the concept of relative risk.

Learning Outcomes

• Explain the limitations of present data and research in this field
• Appraise published scientific data in a wider context.
• Describe the nutritional requirements of aquatic animals and the role of nutrients in their growth and development.
• Recognise the issues facing the development of appropriate feeds for extensive, semi-intensive and intensive aquaculture systems.
• Discuss current trends in the nutrition of aquatic animals and sustainability issues within the sector.
• Describe the emerging issues in consumer relations, food safety and standards.
• Explain the role of fatty acids, particularly those of aquatic origin, in human nutrition and development.
• Recognise the key issues in feeding and associated husbandry of larval finfish and crustacea including production of live feeds.

Aquatic Animal Reproduction & Genetics (AQUP4F)

Dr David Penman

This module will provide you with an overview of the principles of temperate and tropical freshwater and marine broodstock management through both lecture and virtual practical sessions. This includes coverage of relevant aspects of genetics (e.g. genetic markers, genetic management, selective breeding, genetic manipulation, cryopreservation, potential genetic impacts) and reproductive biology (e.g. reproductive strategies, endocrinology, gonad development, management of reproduction, egg quality and fecundity). Specific characteristics of hatchery operation, design and management for a range of species will also be addressed.

Learning Outcomes

• understand the importance of genetic management for the long-term maintenance and improvement of hatchery produced finfish species
• understand the importance of combining reproductive and genetic technologies to ensure the sustainable and cost effect production of high quality seed for the industry.

Aquatic Production Systems (AQUP5F)

Prof David Little

This course provides an overview of aquaculture production systems, their status and development; extensive/intensive land and water based systems, hatchery rearing and on-growing of fish, molluscs, crustaceans and algae. Engineering principles and design and operation of key systems and components, including hydraulics, pumps and pipe flows, heat and gas transfer; soils, materials and constructions, pond, tank and cage design, special systems, recycle system and water treatment design are covered. An insight into project and farm construction management is also provided

Learning Outcomes

• Identify design, operational and management principles, key systems and components essential for effective aquaculture production.
• Apply concepts of production planning to aquaculture systems
• Apply key issues of dimensioning and design, and the specification and sizing of key components to aquaculture systems
• Link components into reliable and cost-effective aquaculture systems
• Develop choices in designs and cost options, and carry out selections
• Describe the key aspects of project development and commissioning

Economics, Marketing & Project Management (AQUP6F)

Mr John Bostock, Mr Anton Immink

The module introduces you to business structures and operations. During the course of the module concepts of growth and competition, practical aquaculture business management, customer relations, staff management, principles of financial management and accounting are covered. Developing business plans, investment and risk, cost-volume-profit analysis and investment decision making are considered along with the fundamentals of financial management. The basic concepts of project management will be introduced and will cover planning and writing a project proposal, working within a project team, and project management tools.

Learning Outcomes

• Develop a management plan for a named project
• Develop a communication strategy for team work on aquatic resource management
• Write a successful proposal
• Summarise key elements in a concise and comprehensive way to the public
• Identify stakeholders and stakeholder groups
• Describe the supply and demand characteristics relevant to the sector
• Prepare cost benefit descriptions
• Prepare simple schedules of capital and operating costs of aquaculture enterprises
• Apply discounting, depreciation, interest and taxation techniques
• Develop key indicators of financial performance including investment, payback, NPV and IRR
• Perform sensitivity analyses

Practical Feed Production (AQUP2S)

Dr Kim Jauncey

As the majority of world aquaculture depends on farmer-made feeds, this module focuses on the use of appropriate raw materials to develop suitable aquaculture feeds for a variety of fish and crustaceans. This module will enable you to identify suitable on-farm feedstuffs, consider individual species requirements and be able to develop appropriate feeding strategies for farms in a number of different economic and resource scenarios.

Learning Outcomes

• Analyse an aquaculture production system and determine an appropriate overall feeding strategy that may involve pond management, fertilisation, supplementary feeding and/or complete feeding
• Prepare a simple production plan for aquaculture grow-out to support feed strategy planning
• Identify appropriate solutions for pond management maximising natural feed production
• Identify appropriate inputs, in the form of fertilisers and feed materials, with respect to cost, availability, processing requirements, method of use and nutritional/nutrient value
• Formulate supplementary and/or complete aquaculture feeds
• Develop appropriate methods for distribution/application of fertilisers and/or feeds
• Identify the principal capital equipment items required for on farm fertiliser and feed processing and production and to cost these
• Construct a simple economic cost-benefit analysis of a feeding strategy

Epidemiology and Health Control (AQUP5S)

Prof James Turnbull

Epidemiology is a large and complex subject based on very simple principles. This module looks at epidemiology and health control measures in populations. An epidemiologist looks for patterns and tries to determine what the difference is between affected and unaffected units. We are designed as humans to look for patterns in everything and do it all the time whether there is a pattern there or not. What epidemiology does is to formalise that process so that you can determine how confident you should be in your estimate of what is happening. The module begins by looking at epidemiological principals, followed by a discussion of population sampling exercises such as sample size calculation and analysis of outbreak information. We then look at methods of developing a differential diagnosis, risk factors and means of controlling suspected disease outbreaks if they should occur. This module will be of use to those interested in farm management and fish health alike.

Learning Outcomes

• Understand the nature of farmed aquatic animal health and welfare.
• Experience of investigation and control of aquatic animal disease problems at a population level.
• Understand the applied risk management in aquaculture systems.
• Understand the theory and legislative framework underpinning chemotherapy in aquaculture.

Business and Financial Management (AQUP3S)

Mr John Bostock

This module provides you with an insight into business and financial management; necessary skills for any entrepreneur or site manager. Topics covered include business management, customer relations, personnel management, and the principles of financial management and accounting. The key aim of this module is to enable you to develop a professional business plan taking into consideration risks and profitability.

Learning Outcomes

• Define typical forms of business structure and their basic features
• Prepare an outline business plan, and appreciate the key issues involved in doing so;
• Describe the basic aspects of project financing
• Define key roles in operational management
• Resolve typical aquaculture management problems,
• Describe basic aspects of business and management accounts, and of management and market decisions, particularly risk assessment and costing and pricing
• Define the essential aspects of developing aquaculture business and industry
• Appreciate the particular management requirements of small groups and co-operatives

Environmental Management (AQUP1S)

Dr Trevor Telfer

This module considers the processes and mechanisms of environmental impacts of aquaculture, and their management, in further detail. It examines the roles of planning, monitoring, modelling, production practice and remediation in the practice and Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Risk Assessment as a method for minimisation, regulation, and management of environmental impacts. These processes are relevant to all sustainable aquaculture develop throughout the world and becoming ever more important. The module will be based around a “doing” rather than “taught” approach using case studies, different scenarios from real environmental situations and data, and “hands on methods” to

produce environmental management plans relevant to aquaculture development.

Learning Outcomes

• Apply the process of environmental impact assessment (EIA) and monitoring in environmental management of aquaculture systems
• Apply the principles by which sampling programmes are designed, field samples are collected and processed and how data are stored and managed
• Interpret and present spatially and temporally-related field data using a range of PC-based analytical software packages
• Describe principles involved in assessment of environmental risks posed by the introduction of new compounds in aquaculture

Advanced Systems (AQUP6S)

Mr John Bostock

Water supply and waste water management are of increasing interest to planners of aquaculture systems and providers of public water services. This module explores the hydrological balance behind good reservoir management practice. For the aquaculturist, the components of intensive aquaculture systems; cages and recirculating tank systems are explored. Design issues encountered in developing aquaculture systems for optimal performance and waste management are key areas of the module which will be appealing to people with a practical interest in aquaculture systems design or environmental concerns.

Learning Outcomes

• Apply basic engineering concepts in key production systems
• Define conditions for development of pond and tank based systems
• Make an outline design for intensive and recycle systems
• Define and provide outline design for a floating aquaculture system
• Make an outline design of water/waste treatment facilities for given objectives
• Apply selected concepts to a design topic of their own choice

Management of Broodstock & Genetic Resources (AQUP4S)

Dr David Penman

The range of reproductive and genetic techniques and information currently available to hatchery and broodstock management will be considered with the objective of supporting aquaculture production. This module is an advance on the Aquatic Animal Reproduction & Genetics moduel and will require some prior knowledge of broodstock management and hatchery processes. The module takes the form of a case study where you will be able to develop appropriate management strategies for farm breeding programmes.

Learning Outcomes

• Discuss how a range of genetic and reproductive techniques can be integrated in managing hatchery populations of a range of aquaculture species
• Develop, as part of a small group, a plan for the management of a hatchery population of a particular species
• Appreciate how the biology and culture of different species influences hatchery management

Field Skills and Livelihoods (AQUP1A)

Prof David Little

This module combines approaches for identifying and understanding complex developmental situations within a selected aquatic resource context. The student will develop an understanding of the social dynamic (who are the poor and more marginalised groups) and a deeper understanding of the current and potential roles of aquatic resources within livelihoods through analysis of assets, access and activities.

Learning Outcomes

• Plan and implement an informal meeting with a community
• Illustrate observational and diagnostic skills
• Identify the major household assets and their relative importance in a named situation
• Define vulnerability for a named situation
• Analyse causes/factors affecting successful and failed attempts respectively to improve livelihoods dependent on aquatic resources

Hatcheries and Genetics (AQUP2A)

Dr David Penman

This module will examine various aspects of aquatic biodiversity, with a focus on genetic aspects, including the analysis and management of aquatic biodiversity in natural systems and in captivity. The latter of these aspects will be explored primarily in the context of aquaculture, with an emphasis on hatcheries and breeding programmes, but will also examine hatcheries intended for supplementing natural populations. We will also look at the potential genetic impacts of aquaculture and other human practices on wild populations.

Learning Outcomes

• Knowledge of genetic management of hatchery fish
• Knowledge of genetic improvement of captive fish populations
• Knowledge of fisheries enhancement stocking programmes in natural water bodies
• Analyse stock structures in natural and managed systems

Fisheries &Common Pool Resources (AQUP3A)

Dr Corinne Critchlow-Watton

The focus of this module is on small-scale fisheries (SSF), often also referred to as artisanal fisheries. Practically all of the world's twenty one million fishers currently employed in small-scale fisheries are from developing countries. These fisheries also supply most of the fish consumed in the developing world. In this course we will consider inland and marine artisanal sectors, which are essentially restricted to coastal/ inshore areas, inland water bodies and rivers. Greatest emphasis will be placed on the artisanal inland fisheries which are of disproportionate socio-economic importance to the poor, relative to the volume and extent of the water resource. In this sector, priority will be given to examples and case-studies from the most socio-economically important floodplain, riverine, reservoir, lake and brackish water fisheries of the tropics and sub-tropical areas of the developing world.

Learning Outcomes

• Identify key opportunities and constraints to sustainable management for a specific system.
• Identify differences between a fishery and aquaculture
• Assess a specific fishery in terms of pressures, species, management goals and environment.
• Assess fish stocks
• Design and develop Questionnaires

Public Health & Aquatic Diseases (AQUP4A)

Dr Andy Shinn

In this module, we will look at a wide range of human health issues associated with aquatic environments whether we are working in them, near them or just using the water taken from them. The hazards to human health are broken down into three very broad categories which are studied in depth:

1. Hazards of living and working in aquatic habitats
2. Hazards from eating aquatic products
3. Zoonotic disease

Learning Outcomes

• Identify general public health problems associated with living in or near water with a focus on those present in drinking water and in aquatic food products
• Access the types and quality of information on fish production or the information that is needed to help inform public health decision-making
• Develop appropriate outline interventions for a public health action plan to address any likely adverse effects of fish production

Resource Management (AQUP5A)

Prof David Little

This course has a focus on exploring water and nutrients as major resources central to aquatic resource development. Resources are placed in the perspective of the user wherever possible and students will evaluate resource profiles at the individual, household and community level. Students will develop a deeper understanding of nutrients and their use as fertilisers and feeds in aquatic systems. Policy issues, with regard to rational management of resources are also covered.

Learning Outcomes

• Assess the efficiency of nutrient use through a simple model of nutrient flows
• Analyse the implications for water use on other activities and stakeholders
• Explain nitrogen and phosphorus cycles and the implications for fertilisation strategies
• Develop a nutrient management strategy for a given situation
• Discriminate and evaluate competitive use of resources

Project Management (AQUP6A)

Prof David Little

The following areas are covered:

Project organisation structures:

• The role of the project manager
• Specific issues for government organisations
• Specific issues for commercial organisations

People management and team building:

• Personal management styles
• Good practice

Project control time:

• Cost
• Quality

Communications:

• Develop a management plan for a named context
• Develop a communication strategy
• Summarise key elements of what should be achieved using current project management tools
• Write a proposal

Learning Outcomes

• Knowledge of project organisation including organisational structures, role of the project manager, specific issues for government and commercial organisations
• Knowledge of people management including team building, personal management styles and good practice
• Knowledge of how to control projects, including time, cost and quality
• Knowledge of how to communicate with clients, staff, stakeholders and PR
• Knowledge of how to monitor and evaluate projects