91118 Fish Biology and Fisheries
Warning: The information on this page is indicative. The subject outline for a
particular session, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source
of all information about the subject for that offering. Required texts, recommended texts and references in particular are likely to change. Students will be provided with a subject outline once they enrol in the subject.
Subject handbook information prior to 2025 is available in the Archives.
Credit points: 6 cp
Result type: Grade and marks
Requisite(s): 91123 Nature and Evolution
These requisites may not apply to students in certain courses. See access conditions.
Description
In this subject students learn about the biology of fishes and their global and local fish biodiversity in marine, estuarine and freshwater habitats. Fisheries sustainability and methods are explored against a background of climate change, and the major management requirements for ecologically sustainable development of fisheries resources are addressed. NSW and Australian practices are examined in relation to best practices elsewhere. Some classes are taught in excursion mode, as well as workshops with fisheries professionals.
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
Upon successful completion of this subject students should be able to:
| 1. | understand and apply basic taxonomy and ecological knowledge of key marine fish resources and key field survey methods for fish stock assessment |
|---|---|
| 2. | identify appropriate key lab techniques and analyse/interpret data for fish stock assessment |
| 3. | use established modeling techniques and interpret results for fish stock assessment and management and apply to issues and conflicts in fishery management |
| 4. | confidently develop a written application and complete an interview to a panel in the area of fisheries |
Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)
This subject also contributes specifically to the development of following course intended learning outcomes:
- Demonstrate theoretical and technical knowledge of the principles of biodiversity and ecosystem function and evaluate and integrate principles of sustainability and conservation to protect biodiversity. (1.1)
- Critically evaluate scientific evidence and literature and apply effective and appropriate experimental design and analytical techniques to discover and hypothesise solutions to new and emerging environmental issues. (2.1)
- Demonstrate professionalism, including personal organisation, autonomy, teamwork, literacy and quantitative skills, while ensuring due consideration to ethical guidelines, work health and safety and environmental impact requirements. (3.1)
- Evaluate evolving concepts in environmental science and apply scientific skills to design creative solutions to contemporary or complex environmental issues by incorporating innovative methods, reflective practices, and self-directed learning. (4.1)
- Communicate effectively and professionally (oral, written, visual), generating defensible, convincing arguments for relaying research findings or articulating complex issues, concepts or skill around environmental science, within a multi-disciplinary setting. (5.1)
Contribution to the development of graduate attributes
1. Disciplinary knowledge
To effectively manage marine biological resources, we need to understand the multiplicity of amazing life histories and environmental interactions that are a backdrop to how we use these resources. A conceptual and hands-on practical understanding of key aspects of biology of exploited fish species and their ecosystems will be developed, enhanced through workshops with Industry experts, lectures and field and laboratory practical sessions and assessed through class reports and the final exam.
2. Research, inquiry and critical thinking.
The format of field classes, workshops and lectures will strongly encourage you to question and contribute their viewpoints throughout the subject. You will be shown how to develop the ability to follow lines of evidence from basic subject knowledge to inferences regarding the status and future of fish populations, through lectures, specific lab exercises and interactive session with Industry experts. Assessment will be through specific synthetic exam questions and a mock job interview which includes inquiry-oriented questions. Depth of inquiry also will be assessed through your critiques, which will require a review of a current relevant research paper that includes extensive evaluation and criticism of its content.
3. Professional, ethical and social responsibility.
You will develop interactive and teamwork skills during field and lab practical sessions, to enable you to analyse information critically and creatively. These skills will be assessed through team oral presentations (teams of 2) with class discussion and coordinator feedback and through a mock job interview process.
Improving your personal, professional and intellectual development is encouraged and/or assessed through the:
- development of excellence in written scientific communication through the process of writing, being assessed and receiving feedback on 2 written reports.
- gathering, evaluating and use of information from sources such as databases, research and review articles, textbooks, catalogues and technical reference books through research for the assessed lab reports.
- ability to learn from and interact with Industry personnel in workshop situations.
- development and assessment of skills and confidence in producing a job application and attending a mock job interview for work in the appropriate Industry. Both these tasks will be assessed and feedback provided, which will greatly assist future employment endeavours.
4. Reflection, Innovation, Creativity.
Fisheries are major ways people engage with their environment, and this subject has a strong focus on understanding the interaction between biological knowledge and sustainable human food resources, very topical in our current human-impacted environment. The complexity of this integration will be highlighted during Industry workshops with addresses by Fisheries scientists on linking management outcomes to science and societal needs. Throughout life, critically evaluating human impacts on the environment will be an important skill. Your understanding of this will be assessed through the critique, specific exam questions and questions in the mock job interview.
5. Communication
Excellence in written scientific communication is a focus on this subject and is developed through all assessment tasks (assessment tasks 1-3). These skills are learned through guidance from teaching associate and lecturer in sessions aimed at communication of hypothesis-driven experimental procedure and analysis through scientific writing and reflection of your experiences throughout the semester. Clear and logical writing that follows standard practice in scientific communication is assessed via proposal marking criteria. Clarity and flow of text will comprise part of the marking criteria for the essays.
Oral communication skills will be developed and practised during Task 3 Job Interview. The Job Interview will simulate an actual scientific job interview. Feedback will be given.
Grading of the presentation will be assessed by several criteria including clarity of thought development, logical flow and innovation.
Teaching and learning strategies
This subject will be delivered via: 2 hours online lectures per week, in person labs. 2-3 hours some weeks, 2 field trips. Labs at UTS with COVI-19 requirements in place e.g. social distancing, masks; Fieldwork social distancing COVI-19 measures; SIMS overnight trip- COVID-19 regulations of social distancing and following SIMS COVID-19 procedures.
You will learn in this subject by way of lectures, practical classes and Industry- participating workshops. In this Subject, 45% of the assessment will be practical-based and half will be based on theory learned in lectures, although information gleaned in prac situations will be tested in the final exam.
There will be 3 hours of lectures each week. Lectures consist of short content delivery interspersed with opportunities to discuss and clarify important concepts. Practical classes will be run, as per timetable below, and include field trips and ½ day workshops off-campus, all of which will involve collaborative learning activities and feedback opportunities.
A workshop at Sydney Institute of Marine Science early in the Semester includes a non-compulsory overnight section (practical field sampling, careers lectures etc.) followed by a compulsory lecture and lab session during scheduled class time. This will be a major opportunity to understand field sampling, interact with Department of Primary Industries (DPI) Fisheries scientists, and interpret field data.
Lecture outlines will be uploaded on Canvas prior to lectures, and you will be expected to review these before class as well as take notes during the lectures. Lecture material should be considered a guide to the information you are required to assimilate, rather than the sole content of the course. You are expected to obtain a deal of information additional to lectures, in the course of preparation of critiques and reports and from references and general reading around the topics.
Feedback will be given in class after each assessment task and individually on request.
Content (topics)
The subject will focus on developing the biological knowledge and skills necessary to evaluate fisheries sustainability, a prerequisite for someone embarking on a Fisheries biologist career. It therefore will include detailed knowledge of the taxonomy, biology and ecology of key fisheries species (fishes, invertebrates) across major habitats worldwide with an Australian focus. Key environmental factors such as oceanographic features, weather, climate change, local pollution and their role in maintaining fish populations will be evaluated, and best practice management including consumer-choice systems will be compared. A key feature will be workshops with Industry experts, including fisheries and marine park scientists, fishers themselves, and conservation workers. The skills developed during the course will enable the stud to develop a comprehensive job application and be interviewed for a mock position in a Fisheries department.
Assessment
Assessment task 1: Individual Report: Careel Bay seagrass fish assemble sampling
| Intent: | This assessment task assesses the following graduate attributes: 1.Disciplinary Knowledge. 2.Research, inquiry and critical thinking. 3.Professional, ethical and social responsibility. 4.Reflection, Innovation, Creativity. 5.Communication. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): 1, 2, 3 and 4 This assessment task contributes to the development of course intended learning outcome(s): 1.1, 2.1, 3.1, 4.1 and 5.1 |
| Type: | Report |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 40% |
| Criteria: | Assessment criteria will be based on ability to seek rigorous scientific publications, distil information, critically analyse knowledge and suggest avenues for improvement of management. Detailed criteria will be available on Canvas before the start of Semester. Students will submit an initial full report, and receive fedback, then submit a Final full report, using the feedback. |
Assessment task 2: Job application/Interview
| Intent: | This assessment task assesses the following graduate attributes: 1.Disciplinary Knowledge. 4.Reflection, Innovation, Creativity. 5.Communication. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): 1 and 4 This assessment task contributes to the development of course intended learning outcome(s): 1.1, 4.1 and 5.1 |
| Type: | Portfolio |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 25% |
| Criteria: | Criteria for assessing this task are the selection criteria, along with additional criteria based on conduct and communication in the interview. These criteria will be supplied on Canvas by start of Semester. |
Assessment task 3: Final Exam
| Intent: | This assessment task assesses the following graduate attributes: 1.Disciplinary Knowledge. 2.Research, inquiry and critical thinking. 4.Reflection, Innovation, Creativity. 5.Communication. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): 1, 2 and 3 This assessment task contributes to the development of course intended learning outcome(s): 1.1, 2.1, 4.1 and 5.1 |
| Type: | Examination |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 35% |
| Criteria: | Answers will be assessed for accuracy. NOTE: This is an OPEN BOOK exam. |
Minimum requirements
You are expected to attend all lectures (e.g. by zoom) during the semester.
You are expected to attend each prac and workshop. There is no opportunity to catch up if you miss a practical class.
Required texts
M. G. King (2007) Fisheries Biology: Assessment and Management 2nd Edition. Blackwell ISBN 978-1-4051-5831-2 (assigned text for subject- recommended buy!) Now available at the Coop Bookstore
Recommended texts
Malcolm Haddon (2001) Modelling and Quantitative Methods in Fisheries Chapman and Hall/CRC Press ISBN 1-58488-177-1 (in library closed reserve)
Jennings M et al. (2003) Marine Fisheries Ecology Blackwell ISBN: 0-632-05098-5 (in library closed reserve)
References
Websites (more to come)
http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fisheries A wealth of info on NSW fisheries
http://www.underwatertimes.com/ Great ot keep abreast of marine issues, esp. sensational ones!
http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/aboutus/about/employment Getting a job at DPI
http://www.afma.gov.au/ Australian Fisheries Management Authority
http://www.affa.gov.au/ Australian Dept. of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
http://www.cmar.csiro.au/ CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research