Global Freshwater Aquaculture and Fisheries

Graduate Seminar, Zoology 955 (1 credit)

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Lakes and rivers provide a non-trivial proportion of global aquaculture and fisheries yields, representing a key ecosystem service for humanity. There is increasing concern about the sustainability of current levels of fisheries and aquaculture production in freshwaters around the world. Students will become familiar with spatial and temporal patterns of wild-capture and farmed fish harvests, and the role of freshwater fishes as a human food resource. Along the way, we will consider the costs and benefits of aquaculture compared to catching wild fish, the human and conservation implications of rising fishing pressure, and the long-term prospects for freshwater fish production. The seminar will follow a round-table discussion format, and participating students will be expected to co-lead 1-2 discussions. As a group, we will mine a global aquaculture and fisheries database, exploring patterns in the data as a complement to reading research literature, reports, and popular press coverage of fisheries and aquaculture issues. Graduate students from all disciplines and departments are truly welcome. Requirements are simply intellectual inquisitiveness and interest in the role of fish consumption in the modern world.

The first meeting will be brief, covering course goals, expectations of students, specific topics to be included, and selection of a day/time for future meetings.