Overview

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Academic contacts

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Offerings

MURDOCH-S1-INT-2018-ONGOING

Other learning activities

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Learning activities

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Learning outcomes

1.
Understand and describe the habitats, movements, recruitment, reproductive biology, genetics, age and growth, diets and feeding of fish and some wildlife species.
2.
Understand and describe the different types of commercial and recreational fishing practices for species of fish, crustaceans and molluscs and the interactions between fisheries and marine wildlife, particularly cetaceans (whales and dolphins).
3.
Understand the main threats to seabird and cetacean populations and how they may be reduced.
4.
Understand and describe the ways in which stock assessment models assist in the management of fisheries, and, in the absence of such models, how fisheries are managed.
5.
Discuss some of the management options for different types of fisheries and species of conservation significance.

Assessments

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Additional information

Unit content:

The unit focus on the following broad themes that are covered in 24 lectures. The concepts developed in lectures and further developed in three computer laboratories, two biological laboratories and a focussed workshop/discussion.  The five themes covered are: 1) Biology of fish and marine wildlife species (seabirds, whales and dolphins); 2) Components of fisheries and case studies of fisheries;  3) Alternative approaches to understanding the biology of fish, gaining information on fish populations and understanding fishery dynamics; 4) Threats to the populations of marine wildlife species; 5) Options for managing and restoring fish and marine wildlife populations. The biology of species includes examining aspects of feeding, growth, reproduction, and movement.  The fisheries considered include molluscs, lobster, sharks and abalone, while the main wildlife species are drawn from seabirds and cetaceans, particularly dolphins.    The laboratories and workshops are: Computer laboratories 1. Introduces students to Excel and provides experience in applying excel to analyse and present data on fisheries; 2. Introduces students to assessing fish stocks using Excel and interpreting the results from stock assessment for management; 3. Analysing data on a dolphin population to assess social networks.  Fish biology laboratories (2) – this laboratories  give students experience in dissecting fish to collect data on size, age and reproductive condition.   Video discussion workshop:  Introduces the concepts of the Tragedy of the Commons and the Prisoner's Dilemma and these are illustrated through the 'Taking Stock' video, a documentary about the collapse of the Canadian cod fishery.