BIOSCI 328 : Fisheries and Aquaculture
Science
2025 Semester One (1253) (15 POINTS)
Course Prescription
Course Overview
The Fisheries and Aquaculture course (Biosci328) is a compulsory course for the Marine Biology pathway in Biological Sciences and aims to provide an informative range of introductory concepts relevant to the exploitation and management of aquatic resources. Fisheries and aquaculture are treated not as distinct disciplines but in the context of integrating exploitation and sustainable environmental integrity. Case studies include NZ fisheries, the role of marine protected areas (MPAs) and shellfish culture. Lectures are provided by staff at the Leigh Marine Laboratory, the School of Biological Sciences, NIWA, the Cawthron Institute and the Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI). Aspiring marine scientists intending to pursue a career in the fields of fisheries and/or aquaculture will find this course especially interesting and will hopefully be inspired to pursue further post-graduate studies in this area.
Capabilities Developed in this Course
| Capability 1: | People and Place |
| Capability 2: | Sustainability |
| Capability 3: | Knowledge and Practice |
| Capability 4: | Critical Thinking |
| Capability 5: | Solution Seeking |
| Capability 6: | Communication |
| Capability 7: | Collaboration |
| Capability 8: | Ethics and Professionalism |
Learning Outcomes
- Critically evaluate the key biological concepts which underpin fisheries and aquaculture science. (Capability 2, 3, 4 and 5)
- Critically evaluate how scientific methodology is used to solve problems relating to fisheries and aquaculture disciplines (Capability 2, 3, 4 and 5)
- Critically evaluate the processes influencing fish stock abundance/stock dynamics, the various assessment techniques used to estimate (Capability 2, 3, 4 and 5)
- Critically evaluate the ecological consequences of aquaculture and fishing activities (Capability 2, 3, 4 and 5)
- Critically evaluate the art of species selection in aquaculture, with a case study of lobster farming (Capability 2, 3, 4 and 5)
- Critically evaluate the global importance of seaweed aquaculture (Capability 2, 3, 4 and 5)
- Critically evaluate the structure and political nature of fisheries (global and NZ perspectives) (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5)
- Critically evaluate the objectives of fisheries management and the potential role of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) as fisheries management tools (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5)
- Critically evaluate the status and extent of aquaculture across the world and within New Zealand (Capability 2, 3, 4 and 5)
- Acquire and apply practical skills in collecting, recording, collating and summarising data through field trip participation (Capability 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8)
Assessments
| Assessment Type | Percentage | Classification |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | 30% | Individual Coursework |
| Test | 20% | Individual Test |
| Final Exam | 50% | Individual Examination |
| 3 types | 100% |
| Assessment Type | Learning Outcome Addressed | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | |
| Coursework | ||||||||||
| Test | ||||||||||
| Final Exam | ||||||||||
Students must pass the practical (coursework) and the theory (test and final exam) independently to pass the course overall.
Key Topics
Special Requirements
Students must pass the theoretical and practical components of the course separately. There will be a mandatory 2 day fisheries field trip at the Leigh Marine Laboratory that enables students to complete the practical coursework component of the course.
Workload Expectations
This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.
For this course, you can expect 34 hours of lectures, two 1 hour tutorials, 50 hours of reading and thinking about the content and 50 hours of work on assignments and/or test/exam preparation.
Delivery Mode
Campus Experience
Attendance on the field trip at the Leigh Marine Lab in the mid-semester break of Sem 1 is expected to complete the practical component of the course.
We strongly recommend lecture attendance, but they will also be available as recordings. Other learning activities including the field trip will not be available as recordings.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.
Learning Resources
Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).
Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.
Student Feedback
During the course Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the staff responsible for the course and staff-student consultative committees.
At the end of the course students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback.
Your feedback helps to improve the course and its delivery for all students.
Staff welcome feedback on the course throughout the semester, including the SET evaluations. Please contact your course coordinator or student representative at any time with your feedback.
Academic Integrity
The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework, tests and examinations as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against electronic source material using computerised detection mechanisms. Upon reasonable request, students may be required to provide an electronic version of their work for computerised review.
Class Representatives
Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.
Copyright
The content and delivery of content in this course are protected by copyright. Material belonging to others may have been used in this course and copied by and solely for the educational purposes of the University under license.
You may copy the course content for the purposes of private study or research, but you may not upload onto any third party site, make a further copy or sell, alter or further reproduce or distribute any part of the course content to another person.
Inclusive Learning
All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.
Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz
Special Circumstances
If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.
If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.
This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.
Learning Continuity
In the event of an unexpected disruption we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the University Website for information about how to proceed.
The delivery mode may change depending on COVID restrictions. Any changes will be communicated through Canvas.
Student Charter and Responsibilities
The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.
Disclaimer
Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.
In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.