The studies and management of fisheries require a diverse set of skills. Through this course students will learn knowledge of fish biology and field and quantitative methodologies for fisheries management of both freshwater and marine fisheries. In addition, students will broaden understanding of fisheries and natural resource management (through lectures and text book readings), practice and develop critical thinking skills (through in-class discussions and a group research project), and learn how to read and interpret the scientific literature (through discussing the primary literature), Furthermore, students will explore case studies of the fisheries in Taiwan, and develop a science-based management plan for these fisheries.
The course will progress through three separate themes:
[1] An overview of fisheries: including history of fisheries, fisheries methods, stock concept, and life history variation.
[2] Methods for assessing fish stocks and fisheries: including estimating gear selectivity, abundance, growth, body energy dynamics, ageing, fecundity, maturation, egg size, natural and fishing mortality, and stock-recruitment relationships.
[3] Management of fisheries: including fishery models, genetic consideration, climate change, and fishing-induced evolution.
Prerequisites: Junior and senior undergraduate and graduate students with at least one biology and mathematics courses