Fisheries Technology and Evaluation of Fisheries Resources

Code:

RM20

Acronym:

TPARP

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Aquaculture and Fisheries

Instance: 2024/2025 - 2S (of 17-02-2025 to 18-07-2025)

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Aquatic Production
Course/CS Responsible:	Master Degree in Marine Sciences - Marine Resources

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
MCMRM	0	Oficial Plan 2018	1	-	5	50	135

Teaching language

Portuguese
Obs.: Elementos bibliográficos em Português, Inglês e Castelhano

Objectives

Students should understand the characteristics, operations, challenges and future perspectives of the general activity of world fisheries (industrial and artisanal), with emphasis on European and Portuguese fisheries (mainland and islands). The objective is also that they know and understand the justification, planning, main calculations, evaluation, practical application and consequences of the main measures for the sustainable management of stocks of aquatic species.

Learning outcomes and competences

Knowledge, in some detail, of the history of fishing, the fishing gears and methods oand industrial and artisanal fishing vessels, including the characteristics of utensils, equipment and materials (mainly cables and nets) used in world and Portuguese fisheries (Mainland, Azores and Madeira) and recognize the main measures for the assessment and management of stocks and fisheries management in general. This knowledge allows a critical view, based on proven scientific data, of one of the most traditional, largest and most relevant human activities carried out in water.

Working method

Presencial

Pre-requirements (prior knowledge) and co-requirements (common knowledge)

Basic notions of Biology/Ictiology of main species from fisheries.

Program

Fisheries Technology

I) Introduction: definitions and general concepts

II) History of fishing: from prehistory to today

III) World and European fisheries: main statistical data

IV) Fish catching gears and methods: types, description and classification

V) Fishing vessels: types, description and classification

VI) Materials used in fishing: types, characteristics, influence on the environment (includes practical session on net measuring and how to make knots)

VII) Equipment used in fishing: safety, detection, fishing, environmental protection

VIII) Fishing issues: overfishing, bycatch, by-mortality, ghost fishing, environment, sustainability, animal welfare

IX) Fishing, welfare and fish quality

X) Fishing in mainland Portugal, Azores and Madeira: main characteristics and general organization


Fisheries Management

I) Management of catches and effort management.

II) Concepts of selectivity, fishing effort and fishing mortality.

III) Factors that influence the selectivity of fishing gears.

IV) Management of by-catches and minimization of discards. By-catch reduction devices (BRD's).

V) Applications to the preservation of fisheries resources.

VI) New technologies for monitoring fishing activities and their importance in fisheries management.


Practical classes and visits

Study visit to Praia da Aguda, including the Fisheries Museum and the Aquarium of "Estação Litoral da Aguda" (Littoral Station of Aguda - ELA), and direct contact at the fishing port with fishermen and artisanal fishing vessels and gear. Includes class with observation of examples of fishing artifacts related to river fishing, traditional fisheries (artisanal and industrial), miniatures of artisanal and industrial fishing boats, local artisanal fishing, gill and trammels, hooks and old and recent artificial baits, buoys and weights for nets, needles for nets, sport fishing, artificial fly fishing, pots and traps, navigation and oceanographic instruments.

Study visit to Docapesca and the fishing port of Matosinhos, to observe local, coastal and offshore fishing vessels and fish auctions for small-scale fishing, seine fishing and trawling.

Study visit to the Maritime Museum of Ílhavo (dedicated to cod fishing) and freezer trawler St.º André, in Gafanha da Nazaré, for contact with distant fishing.

Exercises for applying management measures.

Selectivity estimation exercises in trawls and static gear.

Study visit to the DGRM, in Lisbon, to learn about the MONICAP system - Continuous Monitoring of Fishing Activities (visit to be confirmed).

Mandatory literature

Gabriel, O.; Lange, K.; Dahm, E. & Wendet, T. ; Von Brandt´s Fish Catching Methods of the World., Blackwell Publishing Ltd., , 2005, 2005
Cadima, E.L.;; Manual de avaliação de recursos pesqueiros, FAO Documento Técnico sobre as Pescas No. 393, 2000
Maria de Lourdes Paes da Franca; A^pesca artesanal local na costa continental portuguesa. ISBN: 972-9372-27-6

Teaching methods and learning activities

Theoretical lessons with video-projections; study visits; stock assessment exercises and application of models.

keywords

Technological sciences > Technology > Water technology
Natural sciences > Environmental science

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Exame	70,00
Apresentação/discussão de um trabalho científico	30,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	50,00
Frequência das aulas	50,00
Trabalho escrito	35,00
Total:	135,00

Eligibility for exams

According to the U.Porto regulations (presence in 3/4 of classes).

Calculation formula of final grade

Written examination about two components: Fisheries Technology (10 points maximum) + Fisheries Assessment and Management (10 points maximum) = 70% final classification.

Presentation and discussion of a written work = 30% final classification.

Examinations or Special Assignments

Presentation and discussion of a written work = 30% final classification.

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

Accordin to the law in force at the moment.

Classification improvement

In exams to improve the obtaibned classification, only the classification of the exam is taken into account. The classification obtained in the written work is not considered.