BS354-6-AU-CO:
Fisheries Ecology
2023/24
Life Sciences (School of)
Colchester Campus
Autumn
Undergraduate: Level 6
Current
Thursday 05 October 2023
Friday 15 December 2023
15
08 March 2024
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
BS327
(none)
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)
This module 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.
The aim of the module is:
- To give a broad understanding of biological, economic, and social aspects of fisheries science and the interplay between them.
By the end of this module, students will be expected to be able to:
- Discuss how physical and biological processes drive the production of fished species and why the abundance of these species changes in space and time.
- Describe the scale, social and economic significance of global fisheries , the species that are caught and the gears that are used to catch them.
- Discuss the factors that motivate and limit human fishing activities and why fishers behave as they do.
- Outline the economic, social and biological reasons why fished species tend to be overexploited.
- Explain how to make basic quantitative assessments of single and multi species fisheries and estimate the parameters needed for these assessments.
- Discuss the key strengths and failings of different fisheries assessment methods.
- Discuss the impacts of fishing on marine ecosystems, birds, mammals, non-target species and habitats.
- Demonstrate the ability to critically evaluate and interpret data sets and other sources of information.
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 module will be delivered via:
- One 2-hour lecture per week.
- One 6-hour field session.
-
Jennings, S., Kaiser, M.J. and Reynolds, J.D. (2001)
Marine fisheries ecology. Oxford: Blackwell Science. Available at:
https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&scope=site&db=nlebk&db=nlabk&AN=274769.
-
Hilborn, R. and Hilborn, U. (2012)
Overfishing: what everyone needs to know. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Available at:
https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/universityofessex-ebooks/detail.action?docID=886462.
-
-
Pauly, D. and Jacquet, J. (2019)
Vanishing Fish: Shifting Baselines and the Future of Global Fisheries. Vancouver: Greystone Books. Available at:
https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/universityofessex-ebooks/detail.action?pq-origsite=primo&docID=5744921.
-
Hilborn, R.
et al. (2017) 'When does fishing forage species affect their predators?',
Fisheries Research, 191, pp. 211–221. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fishres.2017.01.008.
The above list is indicative of the essential reading for the course.
The library makes provision for all reading list items, with digital provision where possible, and these resources are shared between students.
Further reading can be obtained from this module's
reading list.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
| Coursework |
Essay and DAI Timed Exam |
|
100% |
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
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Dr Anna Sturrock, email: anna.sturrock@essex.ac.uk.
Dr Leanne Hepburn, Dr Anna Sturrock, Dr Hannah Lewis
School Undergraduate Office, email: bsugoffice (Non essex users should add @essex.ac.uk to create the full email address)
Yes
No
No
Prof Edgar Turner
University of Cambridge
Professor of Insect Ecology
Available via Moodle
Of 62 hours, 34 (54.8%) hours available to students:
5 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
23 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s), module, or event type.
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