Aquaculture and Fisheries
Aquaculture and Fisheries Meeting market needs while protecting our sea-life
What is Aquaculture and Fisheries?
Fisheries science is the study of managing and understanding fisheries.
The market for seafood is huge, and growing fast but stocks of fish are dropping dramatically due to overfishing, pollution and other human impacts. This is where Aquaculture and Fisheries Science come together.
A fishery (plural: fisheries) is an organized effort to catch fish or other aquatic species. Most fisheries occur in the sea rather than in fresh water.
Fisheries science is the study of managing and understanding fisheries.
Aquaculture is the aquatic equivalent of agriculture - the production of aquatic species in land or sea based "farms''. Aquaculture in New Zealand has undergone a huge expansion and now production of seacage salmon and greenlip mussels are a big part of our seafood industry.
Why Study Aquaculture and Fisheries?
Fishing and fisheries are very important to New Zealand because of our fascination with the sea, and the importance of the ocean for food and trade. As fish stocks decline Aquaculture is an industry of growing importance to New Zealand. Our extensive coast line, much of it with sheltered bays and inlets, and our unpolluted water make this country particularly suited to seafood production from aquaculture.
Career Opportunities
With a BAppSc in Aquaculture and Fisheries you'll be well placed to work in a variety of positions within the industry. You could join the Ministry of Fisheries who have the role of managing our fish stocks or join one of the many companies who catch the fish we eat or export. Some of these same companies are also involved in the culture of fish or shellfish and the growth of these to a marketable size. You may help develop new products from fish or shellfish. Alternatively you might join a science team for a regional council to help make local decisions on which coastal areas might be used for aquaculture and how best to environmentally manage these areas. If you wish to stay in the University system and learn more about aquaculture and fisheries science or marketing and management of products, you could complete an M.Sc. or Ph.D. opening up wider job opportunities in a more senior scientist or management position.
Background required
High school students are recommended to take Biology, Chemistry, Maths and Physics in year 12 and preferably in year 13.
What Will I Study?
Fisheries and aquaculture scientists and managers need to have a good understanding of biology, ecology, oceanography, chemistry, statistics, and management. You will learn the more basic aspects of these subjects at years 1 and 2. As you progress through the course more specialist subjects such as fisheries, aquaculture, and food science will be introduced. You will start to apply your science knowledge to the marine environment with Nautical studies, Marine Science and ecology as well as food science. You will build your business skills with more in depth study of markets, and accounting and finance. Additionally you will study marine species as well as further exploring the marine environment and chemistry. Your business study will include innovation and new product development. You will choose additional papers to tailor your course to your own particular interests.
You will carry out a work placement which is counted towards your degree as well as giving you valuable experience in the fishing industry. Other papers required are focused on your particular interest area in marine science as well as further studies in management.
Major Subject and Programme Requirements
Profiles: Mark Preece
"I wanted to get a degree that was directly applicable to the workforce."
Mark Preece (Te Iwi Morriori, Te Atiawa) was born on the Chatam Islands; his dad was a crayfisherman, and Mark wanted to stay working at sea. So he studies at the University of Otago, gaining a Masters in Marine Science. While studying, Mark researched a sea-cage cultivation of paua – research sponsored by Southern Ocean Seafoods.
He explains "I wanted to get a degree that was directly applicable to the workforce. My Masters was a straight line into what I'm doing now."
What Mark is doing now is working as the Aquaculture Manager for King Salmon, which is the new company formed when Southern Ocean Seafoods merged with Regal Salmon. So how does farming paua translate into farming salmon?
"The principles of aquaculture are the same, so it really doesn't matter what the species is, you try to minimize the cost which are generally associated with feeding fish, while maximizing the profits you can make from sales bu capturing and adding value along the production chain."
Mark has worked for the same company for 12 years now, and the three promotions to different roles with increases responsibility have ensured the job has remained challenging and interesting.
So what was the best thing about studying Aquaculture at Otago? Mark says "There are great facilities, with the Portobello Marine Laboratory and the research vessel – there's a new one now, the RV Polaris II – and then there are the other supporting departments at the University; Microbiology, Chemistry which all have relevant areas for Aquaculture. What I like about Aquaculture is that it's a more environmentally efficient and sustainable method of meeting consumer demand compared with harvesting from a wild fishery."
Contacts
For further information regarding Aquaculture and Fisheries, please contact:
Associate Professor Mike Barker, PhD(Auckland)
Department of Marine Science
University of Otago
PO Box 56, Dunedin
New Zealand
Tel 64 3 479 7988
Fax 64 3 479 8336
Email mike.barker@stonebow.otago.ac.nz
Or
Dr Candida Savage MSc (Cape Town), PhD (Stockholm)
Department of Marine Science
University of Otago
PO Box 56, Dunedin
New Zealand
Tel 64 3 479 8324
Fax 64 3 479 8336
Email candida.savage@stonebow.otago.ac.nz
PDF Infosheet
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