St Andrews launches innovative online course

An online course in aquaculture, one of the world’s fastest growing industries, will be launched by the University of St Andrews this week.

The School of Biology in St Andrews will lead the course with industry support from 5M Publishing and international aquaculture consultants Fish Vet Group.

The Sustainable Aquaculture course is aimed at new graduates in the biological sciences who wish to develop their skills and knowledge of the global industry, examining sustainable aquatic food production.

As the course is available via e-learning and is studied part time it is also suitable for those currently working in fields of marine and fresh water aquaculture who wish to gain a greater knowledge and a recognised qualification in order to promote their career prospects.

Dr Neil Hazon, Reader at the Gatty Marine Research Institute, said “Aquaculture is one of the world’s fastest growing industries, with an average growth rate of over 8% per year for the past 10 years.

“It is estimated that a further 40 million tonnes of aquatic food will be required by 2030 to supply the increasing demand and to replace declining wild harvested sources.

“The aquaculture industry will face many challenges to be economically, socially and environmentally sustainable, and will require trained and experienced staff to address successfully these issues and to meet anticipated future growth.”

Modules include the structure of the global aquaculture industry, fish and invertebrate biology, aquaculture products and markets, each will consist of a series of lectures, tutorials, discussions and case studies delivered online.

Together with online publishers 5M Publishing, the University will introduce the new e-learning Certificate level course in April 2009.

The Sustainable Aquaculture course is intended to prepare students for a professional career involved with aquaculture, particularly for those looking to focus on the rapidly growing Asian and South American markets, and will be taught online from the leading aquaculture publication TheFishSite.com.

The course structure is modular and part time study through the e-learning platform will allow students the flexibility to complete their studies while continuing in their employment.

Dr Hazon continued, “The Certificate in Sustainable Aquaculture is first and foremost, a course in professional and sustainable food production.

“The course aims to address the many challenges of the global aquaculture industry with strong components drawing directly on experience from the fields of marine and fresh water aquaculture.”

For further details visit :- http://biology.st-andrews.ac.uk/aquaculture  or http://www.thefishsite.com/learn/

ENDS

NOTE TO EDITORS:

Dr Neil Hazon is available for interview on Tel: +44 (0)1334 463451 or E-mail: [email protected]

For further details on 5M Publishing contact Malcolm Pye, Business Development Director on Tel: +44 (0)1234 818180 or E-mail: [email protected]

NOTE TO PICTURE EDITORS:

IMAGES ARE AVAILABLE FROM THE PRESS OFFICE – CONTACTS BELOW.

Issued by the Press Office, University of St Andrews
Contact Fiona Armstrong, Press Officer on 01334 462530 / 462529, Mobile: 07730 415 015 or Email: [email protected]
Ref:  sustainable aquaculture 20/01/09
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