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Overview

Course Prescription

Current assessment of the national and global status of aquaculture and consideration of future prospects. Examples of aquaculture in New Zealand are examined with a review of general environmental and biological problems and the role of scientific knowledge in aquaculture management. A sound knowledge of MARINE 308 (previously BIOSCI 328) or equivalent is assumed.

Course Overview

The course provides a current assessment of the national and global status of aquaculture and fisheries, including consideration of origins of aquaculture, current challenges, and future prospects. Examples of seaweed, invertebrate, and fish aquaculture in New Zealand and elsewhere will be examined. In addition, there is a review of general environmental and biological problems faced by aquaculture activities and the role of scientific knowledge in dealing with many of these problems. Of specific focus is the application of genetic techniques in aquaculture, fin fish welfare in production systems, operation of aquaculture hatcheries and the evaluation of environmental impacts created by aquaculture. The course consists of a series of two hour seminar sessions spaced throughout the semester, with each session dealing with a different topic area. A mixture of approaches to learning are used throughout the seminars, including lecture style content delivery, individual discovery and sharing, peer-to-peer discussion and participatory exercises. In addition, the course includes a one day field trip to local aquaculture facilities to gain direct experience of aquaculture science and practice. The course includes a practical component that is undertaken as part of a graded assignment for the course and involves hands-on experience with raising aquatic organisms. A sound knowledge of Marine 308 - Fisheries and Aquaculture or equivalent is assumed.

This course can contribute to a PGDipSci or MSc or MMarineSt. Graduates from this course have gone on to careers in research, as well as roles in community organisations, aquaculture industry, regional and central government, industry and consulting, in a variety of roles including researchers, technicians, policy analysts, science and technology managers.

Key Topics

  1. Global Aquaculture Issues
  2. New Zealand Aquaculture
  3. Hatchery Systems in Aquaculture
  4. Genetics in Aquaculture
  5. Fin Fish Productivity, Quality and Welfare (2 sessions)
  6. Aquaculture and the Environment (2 sessions)

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point, 700 level course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect around 2 hours of seminars every fortnight, 4 hours of reading and thinking about the course content each week, as well as around 5 hours of work on assignments and course work preparation. In addition, there is an 8 hour (one day field trip) to visit aquaculture facilities.

Course Prerequisites, Corequisites and Restrictions

Restriction

Advice on Course Limits

This is a limited entry course: there is a limit on the number of enrolments due to staff or space capacity. In cases where the courses is taught under two separate codes (e.g. concurrently taught courses, general education courses) the course limit specified is the total across both versions of the course. For more information, please see the Programme and Course Limitations section of the University Academic and General Statutes and Regulations.

Locations and Semesters Offered

LocationSemester
City

Teaching and Learning

Campus Experience

Campus Experience - course consists of a series of two hour seminar sessions on the main city campus.

Learning Resources

Taught courses use a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas to provide students with learning materials including reading lists and lecture recordings (where available). Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Additional Information on Learning Resources

All learning resources will be supplied in classroom sessions, via Canvas or will be available through the University of Auckland's online library services.

Copyright

The content and delivery of content in this course are protected by copyright. Material belonging to others may have been used in this course and copied by and solely for the educational purposes of the University under license. You may copy the course content for the purposes of private study or research, but you may not upload onto any third-party site, make a further copy or sell, alter or further reproduce or distribute any part of the course content to another person.

Health and Safety

Offsite visits to working aquaculture and research facilities for the one day field trip involves prior health and safety briefing to manage risks associated with site visits.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

Other Information

An effort is made to build in some flexibility in the course content to fit around the demands and interests of students taking the course. For example, coursework components are selected to match personal interests of students, and due dates for class assignments are negotiated with the class to best fit with competing course demands.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.

Similarly, research students must meet the University’s expectations of good research practice. This requires:

  • Honesty - in all aspects of research work
  • Accountability - in the conduct of research
  • Professional courtesy and fairness – in working with others
  • Good stewardship – on behalf of others
  • Transparency – of research process and presentation of results
  • Clarity - communication to be understandable, explainable and accessible

For more information on the University’s expectations of academic integrity, please see the Academic Conduct section of the University policy hub.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about taught courses is made available to enrolled students in Canvas.

Students may be asked to submit assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.


Assessment and Learning Outcomes

Additional Information on Assessment

One assignment includes a practical component involving rearing of aquatic animals and reporting on the success or otherwise, as well as relating the observations of the culture of the organisms to their use in global aquaculture industry.

Special Requirements

One of the two major assignments for this course requires a practical component that is completed at home using everyday items available to all students. Additional equipment is available on a loan basis to students. 

A full day field trip is organised for a date of least disruption to class work for students taking the course. The field trip is not compulsory but is a valuable opportunity for enhancing the learning outcomes from the course.

Course Learning Outcomes

CLO #OutcomeProgramme Capability Link
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Assessments

Assessment TypeAssessment PercentageAssessment Classification

Assessment to CLO Mapping

Assessment Type12345678910

Student Feedback, Support and Charter

Student Feedback

Feedback on taught courses is gathered from students at the end of each semester through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions. Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students. In addition, class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Additional Information on Student Feedback

During the course Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the staff responsible for the course and staff-student consultative committees.

At the end of the course students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback.

Your feedback helps to improve the course and its delivery for all students.

Class representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Tuākana

Tuākana is a multi-faceted programme for Māori and Pacific students providing topic specific tutorials, one-on-one sessions, test and exam preparation and more. Explore your options at Tuakana Learning Communities.

Additional Information on Tuākana

School of Biological Sciences, and Institute of Marine Science both run Tuākana programmes that support students with this course.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor. Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website.

Wellbeing

We all go through tough times during the semester, or see our friends struggling. There is lots of help out there - please see the Support Services page for information on support services in the University and the wider community.

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed work is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due. If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page. This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter.

Student Academic Complaints and Disputes

Students with concerns about teaching including how a course is delivered, the resources provided, or supervision arrangements, have the right to express their concerns and seek resolution. The university encourages informal resolution where possible, as this is quicker and less stressful. For information on the informal and formal complaints processes, please refer to the Student Academic Complaints Statute in the Student Policies and Guidelines section of the Policy Hub.