Postgraduate Study in Aquaculture and Fisheries
Supporting the blue economy.
To fulfil the needs of a growing human population the production of food and other products from marine and freshwater environments must increase sustainably. Declines in wild fisheries and the growth in the aquaculture sector mean that now more than half of all seafood consumed throughout the world comes from aquaculture.
The sustainable growth of aquaculture and the restoration of wild fisheries are two of the greatest challenges facing the planet – many of the solutions will be provided by scientists.
Why study Aquaculture and Fisheries?
Fisheries and aquaculture are very important to New Zealanders because of the importance of the freshwater and marine environments for our culture, food and trade. Management of wild fisheries and aquaculture is connected – both require science to innovate and ensure sustainable practice.
Understanding environmental impacts, reducing waste, enhancing production and ensuring the highest value for the products we produce are all challenges that will be met through the application of science across a range of disciplines.
Are you just starting uni?
Learn about studying Aquaculture and Fisheries as an undergraduate at Otago.
Choose a study option
Whether you are advancing your career with our specialised graduate qualifications or pursuing in-depth research and expertise through our postgraduate programmes, Otago is here to support your aspirations.
Postgraduate qualifications
Honours, Master’s, PhDs, and other advanced degrees for graduates. Just one additional year of study will earn you a valuable postgraduate degree. Or perhaps you want the depth of a full year of research-only time during a Master’s or to step up to a PhD.
Graduate Qualifications
Our graduate qualifications are crafted to transition students from foundational studies to advanced, specialised knowledge.
Ready to apply?
Take your expertise to the next level with advanced study.
Programme details
Compare programmes for this subject.
| Papers |
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With approval from the Head of Department, one MARI 400-level paper may be replaced with a 400-level paper from another relevant subject. |
Papers
View a list of all related papers below.
AQFI papers
| Paper Code | Year | Title | Points | Teaching period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AQFI251 | 2025 | Principles of Aquaculture | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| AQFI301 | 2025 | Field Methods in Applied Marine Science | 18 points | 1st Non standard period (13 January 2025 - 28 February 2025), 2nd Non standard period (10 February 2025 - 28 March 2025), 4th Non standard period (10 November 2025 - 9 December 2025) |
| AQFI352 | 2025 | Fisheries Ecology | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| AQFI421 | 2025 | Advanced Aquaculture and Fisheries | 20 points | Semester 1 |
| AQFI450 | 2025 | Special Topic | 20 points | Not offered in 2025 |
| AQFI490 | 2025 | Dissertation | 60 points | 2nd Non standard period (17 February 2025 - 7 November 2025) |
Contacts
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Regulations on this page are taken from the 2025 Calendar and supplementary material.
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