AQ2001:03
Introduction to Aquaculture
Townsville
Prerequisites: ZL1001
24 lectures, 24 hours practicals/field work. First semester. Students should undertake AQ2001 and BS2001 concurrently. However, BS2001 is not required if MA1420 has already been passed.
Staff: Dr P Appleford.
The scope and role of aquaculture for increasing food and profit yields of freshwater, brackish and marine organisms. The biological principles of aquaculture, including species selection, hatchery breeding and rearing and grow-out practices. Aquaculture technology and systems, overseas experience and Australian potential.
Topics include definition, history and current world and Australian status of aquaculture; extensive, semi-intensive and intensive aquaculture; water quality and other requirements; principles for choosing an aquaculture species; lifecycles and aquaculture; principles of nutrition; sustainable aquaculture: pollution, disease; future development of aquaculture.
Learning Objectives:
- an appreciation of the scope and need for aquaculture in “seafood” production;
- a general understanding of the different types of aquaculture systems;
- a preliminary understanding of the biological and other principles underlying aquaculture;
- an awareness of the environmental demands, including aspects of pollution and disease, for sustained aquaculture;
- an appreciation of the potential future of aquaculture and factors that will influence it;
- to enable students to evaluate their aptitude, enthusiasm and commitment for undertaking a major, and possibly pursuing a future career, in aquaculture.
Assessment by a two-hour final examination (50%); on-course tests and practical/reports (50%).