BS354-6-AU-CO:
Fisheries Ecology

The details
2022/23
Life Sciences (School of)
Colchester Campus
Autumn
Undergraduate: Level 6
Current
Thursday 06 October 2022
Friday 16 December 2022
15
30 April 2021

 

Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
BS327

 

(none)

Key module for

BSC C161 Marine Biology (Including Foundation Year),
BSC C164 Marine Biology,
BSC CC60 Marine Biology (Including Year Abroad),
BSC CC64 Marine Biology (Including Placement Year),
MSCIB097 Tropical Marine Biology,
MSCIBA97 Tropical Marine Biology (Including Placement Year),
MSCIBB97 Tropical Marine Biology (Including Year Abroad)

Module description

Fisheries play a key role in providing food, income and employment in many parts of the world and effective fisheries management requires clear objectives and a decision making process supported by the best scientific advice.

This course will give a broad understanding of biological, economic, and social aspects of fisheries science and the interplay between them. Specifically, from fisheries ecology, production processes, life histories and distributions to population structures. We will also examine fishing gears and techniques, socioeconomics and stock assessments as well as freshwater fisheries and conservation management.

Module aims

This module aims to give a broad understanding of biological, economic, and social aspects of fisheries science and the interplay between them.

Module learning outcomes

On completion of this module, students will be able to:

1. Discuss how physical and biological processes drive the production of fished species and why the abundance of these species changes in space and time.
2. Describe the scale, social and economic significance of global fisheries , the species that are caught and the gears that are used to catch them
3. Discuss the factors that motivate and limit human fishing activities and why fishers behave as they do
4. Outline the economic, social and biological reasons why fished species tend to be overexploited
5. Explain how to make basic quantitative assessments of single and multi species fisheries and estimate the parameters needed for these assessments
6. Discuss the key strengths and failings of different fisheries assessment methods
7. Discuss the impacts of fishing on marine ecosystems, birds, mammals, non-target species and habitats
8. Demonstrate the ability to critically evaluate and interpret data sets and other sources of information.

Module information

No additional information available.

Learning and teaching methods

10x2 hour lectures 1x6 hour field session Student managed learning: 130 hrs/module Total 150 hrs

Bibliography

This module does not appear to have a published bibliography for this year.

Assessment items, weightings and deadlines

Coursework / exam Description Deadline Coursework weighting
Coursework   Essay    50% 
Coursework   DAI    50% 
Coursework   Exam Style Coursework     

Exam format definitions

  • Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
  • In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
  • In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
  • In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary, for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.

Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.

Overall assessment

Coursework Exam
100% 0%

Reassessment

Coursework Exam
100% 0%
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Prof Leanne Hepburn, email: l.hepburn@essex.ac.uk.
Dr Leanne Hepburn, Dr Anna Sturrock
School Undergraduate Office, email: bsugoffice (Non essex users should add @essex.ac.uk to create the full email address)

 

Availability
Yes
No
No

External examiner

Dr Nicholas Kamenos
University of Glasgow
Reader
Prof Edgar Turner
University of Cambridge
Professor of Insect Ecology
Resources
Available via Moodle
Of 35 hours, 28 (80%) hours available to students:
7 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s), module, or event type.

 

Further information
Life Sciences (School of)

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