BIO205 Fish and Fisheries Biology

This semester 2 unit, which is aimed at second and third year undergraduates at Murdoch University, has been offered on an internal basis during the last year and is limited to 40 student places in each year.

The students will gain a sound understanding of fundamental aspects of fish biology and of the importance of understanding these aspects in order to succcessfully manage fisheries for different fish, crustacean and mollusc species. Emphasis is placed on describing the ways in which different fish species use aquatic habitats, the distribution, movement and recruitment patterns of fish species, and the basis for differences in the age and growth, reproductive biology and diets of fish species. Detailed case histories will be provided for selected fisheries in Australia and elsewhere, to highlight important issues in the understanding of fisheries biology. Other topics that are covered include (1) tools used for identification of fish stocks, (2) theoretical background of stock assessment models and the application of management tools, (3) the use of marine reserves and crucial fish habitats as management tools, (4) the role of aquaculture in stock enhancement and the development of new fisheries and (5) the shift towards integrated management of fisheries and ecosystem modelling.

The unit is based on lectures that are given by both internal and external experts in the appropriate field, including organisations such as the Department of Fisheries Western Australia, Department of Conservation and Land Management and the Aquaculture Development Unit, South Challenger TAFE. It also includes a hands-on workshop for biological processing, analyses and writing up of biological data for a fish species, and a stock assessment workshop, using computer-based models.

See also http://online.murdoch.edu.au/public/BIO205/

International students

For information on what Murdoch University has to offer you see http://www.international.murdoch.edu.au/.