Marine Living Resources

Objectives

In this course unit, students must understand and identify the main living marine resources. It is intended that students understand the sensitivity of the living resources in relation to human interventions such as fishing, pollution and habitat destruction and know the effects of exploitation on different components of the marine ecosystem. Various types of emblematic fisheries worldwide will be studied (small pelagic, tuna, demersal species, cephalopods).

Program

Main exploited living resources: fish, crustaceans, mollusks, and algae. Fishing gear and techniques and the main types of fishing vessels. Historical evolution and status of major global fisheries. Principles of fisheries management and regulatory framework. Fundamental concepts in fisheries biology. Fisheries-dependent and independent data. Key biological parameters used in fisheries biology (reproduction, growth, mortality). Ecological, political, and socioeconomic aspects of fisheries.

Teaching Methodologies

Contents will be provided based on conceptual nature classroom and exploratory activities. The classes will be essentially expository, using dynamic visual presentations, specific case studies using the analysis of scientific publications, which will be presented and discussed by the students. The information transmitted in the classroom and related documentation will be made available through platform of "e-learning Moodle". The practical component of the course will include a visit to a fishing port and sampling of discharges. In the lab students will perform biological sampling of fish specimens and biological parameters estimation.

Bibliography

Caddy, J.F.; GrifÏths, R.C., 1995. Living marine resources and their sustainable development: some environmental and institutional perspectives. FAO Fisheries Technical Paper. No. 353. FAO, Rome. 1995. 167p.

FAO. 2024. The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2024 – Blue Transformation in action. Rome.

King, M., 2007. Fisheries Biology, Assessment and Management, 2nd Edition. Wiley-Blackwell.

Paul J. B. Hart (Editor), John D. Reynolds (Editor), 2002. Handbook of Fish Biology and Fisheries: 2 Volume Set. Wiley-Blackwell. ISBN: 978 0-632-06483-0

Jennings, S., Kaiser, M., Reynolds, J.D., 2001. Marine Fisheries Ecology. 432 pages. February 2001, Wiley-Blackwell. ISBN: 978-0-632-0509

Edwin S. Iversen, 1995. Living Marine Resources: Their Utilization and Management. Springer Science & Business Media, 31/12/1995 - 403 p