MBIO 415 Ichthyology & Fisheries Science

This course is designed to use students’ existing knowledge on fish biology, ecosystem functions, and interactions to further their understanding of fish biology and the dynamics of fisheries science and management. The course will focus on fish anatomy, morphology, physiology ecology, and behavior. The course provides both a theoretical and practical understanding of fish identification, ecology, and sampling. Students will also gain an appreciation for fisheries science in tropical waters with an emphasis on the biology of managed and exploited species. The core elements of the course will include methods used in assessing fish populations, examples of methods of fisheries science, and their applications in tropical environments. Key concepts that will be covered will include tropical fish, age-based stock assessment, coral reef fisheries, use of marine protected areas as fisheries management tools. Examples of the major commercial fisheries managed in the Caribbean will be discussed, as well as their biology, taxonomic groups, and how these organisms interact with themselves and their environment. This course introduces students to the steps required for choosing appropriate management tools by working with actual fisheries data sets and visiting local fishery managers. The formal concepts introduced in this class will be presented by your lecturer and will be supplemented by group lab/class activities, and fieldwork.