Zoology 772/872

Fisheries Biology

 

2006 General Lecture Outline

 

A. Introductory Concepts

           

            Definition of a fishery

            Scope of fisheries biology

            Historical development and current status

 

B. Biological Basis of Fishery Management

           

            Concept of unit stock

            Review of basic population dynamics

            Concept of yield

            Migrations as related to fisheries

            Recruitment:  importance, patterns, processes

            Theoretical stock-recruitment relationships

            Age and growth

 

C. Empirical Techniques

           

            Population estimation

            Fishing mortality estimation

            Natural mortality estimation

            Virtual population analysis

            Yield models

            Equivalent adult analysis

            Quantitative Identification of Essential Fish Habitat

 

D. Management -- Theory and Reality

           

            Bycatch and Discards

            Mobile Gear/Benthic Communities    

            Conflicting interests

            Council systems

            ITQ's, Marine Protected Areas, and other options

 

E. Stock Enhancement & Finfish Aquaculture: Solutions for the Future?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Problem Sets

 

At approximately weekly intervals, you will receive problem sets to complete by the following week.  These will consist of various types of fisheries data that you will be responsible for analyzing, interpreting and writing up.  These exercises will be designed to further develop your quantitative abilities, and will constitute 60% of your grade. 

 

Examination

 

There will be a single, 24 hour, take-home final examination, consisting of a number of problems.  It will constitute 40% of your grade.