Engineering and Handling in Aquaculture

Code:

MA312

Acronym:

EMA

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Applied Biology

Instance: 2022/2023 - 2T (of 14-11-2022 to 13-01-2023)

Active?	Yes
Web Page:	https://moodle.up.pt/course/view.php?id=1879
Responsible unit:	Aquatic Production
Course/CS Responsible:	Aquatic Sciences

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
LCMA	28	Official Study Plan	3	-	5	49	135

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

Currently, culture of aquatic organisms for direct consumption, stock enhancement, or other purposes is the fastest growing and diversified sector of livestock production. The purpose of this course is to develop in students a capacity to manage commonly used culture systems and to become familiar with the handling alternatives that are essential requirements in the profitability of these investments. Emphasis is placed in responsible selection and safe use of materials, equipment and techniques of fish handling and students will have the opportunity to conduct hands-on activities associated with the practical aspects of aquaculture. Trips to industries and government organizations will expose students to different culturing techniques.

Learning outcomes and competences

Students will be able to: use interdisciplinary information to understand the necessary balance between human activities and the environment over time; know the constructive processes in aquaculture, their fields of application and their limitations; describe basic culture methodologies, common problems and solutions of commercially important species;  demonstrate competence with the most relevant forms of aquaculture management; recognize conditioning factors and how they can be manipulated; know how to develop technologies and / or strategies before and after, capture and handling to ensure the highest quality in aquaculture products; know how to select the most appropriate form and / or equipment to perform each task while maintaining the code of good practice and the basic rules of hygiene, sanitation and safety.

Working method

Presencial

Program

01 - Aquaculture systems and practices
02 - Aquaculture: Global status and trends 
03 - Biotechnical factors affecting production
04 - Methods in the design of a fish farm
05 - Handling and inventory methodologies for aquatic animals (manual and automatic vaccination, tagging (CWT, VIE, VIA, PIT), imaging techniques and surgical implants and sutures, semen criopreservation and egg collection and fertilization)
06 - Aquarium techniques and professional applications
07 - Tank technology and water management 
08 - Cage aquaculture 
09 - Handling and animal welfare 
10 - Harvesting techniques 
11 - Fish and shellfish counting sizing and weighing 
12 - Fish lifting and pumping 
13 - Grading 
14 - Live fish transport 
15 - Fish sedation, anesthesia, analgesia and euthanasia 
16 – Biosecurity in aquaculture

 

 

Mandatory literature

Lekang Odd-Ivar; Aquaculture engineering. ISBN: 978-0-470-67085-9
Tidwell James H. 340; Aquaculture production systems. ISBN: 978-0-8138-0126-1
Lucas John S. 340; Aquaculture. ISBN: 978-1-4051-8858-6
Parker Rick; Aquaculture science. ISBN: 978-1-4354-8808-3
Lawson Thomas B.; Fundamentals of aquacultural engineering. ISBN: 0-412-06511-8
Wheaton Frederick W.; Aquacultural engineering. ISBN: 0-471-93755-X
Beveridge Malcolm C. M.; Cage aquaculture. ISBN: 1-4051-0842-8

Complementary Bibliography

P. R. Escobal; Aquatic Systems Engineering: devices and how they function, Dimension Engineering Press , 2000. ISBN: 978-1-4051-0842-3
Pavlidis Michalis 340; Sparidae. ISBN: 978-1-4051-9772-4

Teaching methods and learning activities

Theoretical lessons: Approach of themes will be covered in lectures supported by audiovisual media (video projection and slides) and a classroom whiteboard. Some lessons are previously recorded on a web platform (e-learning). Specific topics may be supplemented with guest speakers.

Theoretical-practical lessons: Solving of design, planning and management problems. Discussion of scientific articles relevant to the lecture theme. 

Practical lessons: Focus on experimental work in ICBAS laboratories with execution of handling protocols and basic techniques in aquatic organisms. Visits to commercial fish farms and public institutions to provide field-based training in production aquaculture.

Note: Additional support outside the classroom, using the SIGARRA and MOODLE platform from University of Porto, providing static or dynamic information, for self-study and self-assessment.

Software

UP - Moodle

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Exame	70,00
Participação presencial	10,00
Trabalho laboratorial	10,00
Trabalho de campo	10,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	86,00
Frequência das aulas	49,00
Total:	135,00

Eligibility for exams

With 3/4 attendance in all classes.

Calculation formula of final grade

A - Final exam: 70%; B - Lab work: 10%; C - Field work: 10%; D - Attendance: 10%

Final score: A x 0,70 + B x 0,10 + C x 0,10 + D x 0,10. Minimum score to be achieved in the examination: 8.0 This criterion applies both to the normal and make-up exams.

Note: Exam (covers all themes lectures from the first to last class: combination of multiple choice, true or false, short answer and short-essay questions covering the all course and is closed-book, closed-notes). Failure to perform the creative homework imply the assignment of zero values to these elements of evaluation.

Examinations or Special Assignments

Management games (Productivity and profit). State-of-the-art manuscripts about aquaculture innovative equipment and/or technics are sometimes held.

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

Special tests required, for example, by the students union officers or students with disabilities, can be of different types, according to a model/type to be determined by the course coordinator.

Classification improvement

Execution of a new final exam, keeping the grades of the remaining components.