IAMZ

Sustainable fisheries management

Programme of the First Part of the Master

Introduction to the marine ecosystem, fishery resources and aquaculture (6 ECTS)

Structure and characteristics of marine ecosystems; Fisheries ecology and biodiversity; Fishery resources (typology and distribution of fishery resources; fishing exploitation and the ecosystem approach); Introduction to aquaculture (Revision of aquaculture production systems and management; aquaculture and the environment; aquaculture and governance); Practical work and case studies

Statistical analysis and database use (5 ECTS)

Statistical analysis in fisheries research (statistical concepts and tools; theory and practice of sampling); Uses of databases in fisheries (statistical data and information management; application of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) to fisheries; statistical services of FAO and other institutions); Practical work: statistical analysis, use of databases and design of fisheries statistical systems

Dynamics of exploited fish populations (5 ECTS)

Theoretical concepts; Recruitment, growth and mortality; Selectivity; Biological functions for parameter estimation; Catches and fishing effort; Standardization of fishing effort; Catchability, vulnerability and accessibility; Data sources for population dynamics; Practical work: estimation of biological parameters

Theory and models for fisheries evaluation (6 ECTS)

Analytical models; Virtual Population Analysis and yield-per-recruit models; Global models; Fisheries survey: swept area and acoustic prospections; Difficulties in fisheries modelling: the problem of interactions between fleets and multiple species; An ecological model: Ecopath (Ecological Pathways Model); Models as management tools; Practical work: application of fisheries evaluation models

Basic economics and production factors in fisheries (4 ECTS)

Basic economics; Fisheries business activity; The fishing vessel and fishing technology (typology, records and control parameters; jobs and training requirements; fishing techniques and gears; technological change and quantitative change); Practical work: economic projections and business management strategies

Fish trade and processing (4 ECTS)

The fish trade worldwide; World trade institutions; Fish trade and marketing; The fishery production environment (fish processing; recreational activities; the economic context of fishing); Practical work: estimation of input-output tables in capture fisheries

Theory and application of bioeconomic models and economic and social indicators (6 ECTS)

Static and dynamic bioeconomic models. Typology; Estimation of effort and of economic parameters. Definition of control parameters; Mecon, a simple simulation model; Mefisto/BEMMFISH, a complex model adapted to the Mediterranean; Application of bioeconomic models; The role of indicators and typology; Use of indicators in management; Practical work: modelling exercises (BEMMFISH) and management proposals

Institutional framework: cooperation and research (4 ECTS)

International cooperation (objectives and cooperation management; regional, national and private cooperation projects); Fisheries research (research policies and their application to fisheries management; research institutions and programmes; research results and uses); The multidisciplinary approach, a Mediterranean application; Practical work: design of a fisheries research campaign

Maritime law and socio-cultural perspective (5 ECTS)

Maritime and fisheries law (worldwide legal framework; evolution of international law; international agreements); The historical perspective of the fishing communities; The socio-cultural perspectiva; The socio-political perspectiva (associations and representativity in the fishing sector; participation in management); Practical work and case studies

Objectives and instruments for fishing policies (5 ECTS)

The sustainable development of fisheries; Technical measures and regulation instruments; Fishing control; Marine protected areas of fisheries interest; Regional Fishery Organisations (RFOs); The Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) of the European Union; Practical work: analysis of regulation strategies

Applied fisheries policies (5 ECTS)

Fisheries management in Europe (Spain, Iceland); Fisheries management in tMediterranean countries (Morocco, Tunisia, Turkey); Fisheries management in other countries (Peru); Practical work: fishing policy planning project

Institutional visits (5 ECTS)

Technical visits and seminars in government institutions, research centres, fishing organisations, processing industries and markets