Programme highlights

• Inter-disciplinary subject
• International, national agenda promotes programme
• Advances in technical and scientific knowledge
• Opportunities for research in an aspect of aquaculture
• Tuition by internationally recognised scientists and personnel from Plymouth University and the National Lobster Hatchery
• Access to expertise from leaders in industry and commerce in a variety of aquaculture systems

​Introduction to sustainable aquaculture systems

Aquaculture is now recognised as the fastest growth sector of agribusiness on a global scale with an estimated annual increase in production amounting to over 10% with nearly 50% of total seafood production derived from various culture systems (FAO 2006).

The economic value of aquaculture is over $80 billion a major contributor to socioeconomic development in the emerging nations and also a vital component of the fisheries policy of several countries in Europe, South America and more recently the United States. Tropical freshwater fish species including carp, catfish and tilapia constitute a significant proportion of farmed fish with growing pressures on coastal and land base use globally.

Fish farming includes the obvious traditional species such as salmon and trout, but more recently, exotic fish such as barramundi, cobia, sea bass, bream and tuna, are also being reared.

As well as fish, there is a major expansion of shrimp, molluscs and algae for direct consumption in the main seafood markets of the world.

Disease control and prevention is also fundamental to the success of aquaculture. It is of paramount importance to effectively monitor and regulate fish stock movement and implement the latest tools available in fish health care and disease diagnosis.

This MSc programme will be unique in its ethos and content for the promotion of aquaculture based on sound principles adhering to scientific and ethical concepts relating to resource utilisation, animal welfare and human requirements.

Key features

• A programme to provide students with a sound basis for appreciating the growing aquaculture industry within a sustainable agenda for meeting the needs of culturing fish, crustacean, mollusc, aquatic plants and invertebrates for their products.
• Specialised modules drawing on the expertise of research active staff with proven track records of teaching and national as well as international recognition in their fields.
• Modern facilities for undertaking a variety of projects and technical training such as wet labs/aquaria, nutrition and feed analytical suites as well as modern teaching laboratories, molecular biology and an electron microscopy centre.
• Strong relationships with government agencies, commercial enterprising and advisory organisations.
• A well established postgraduate environment with the interactions of PhD students engaged in related specialised areas to foster a sound academic forum for sharing ideas and technical knowhow.