Sustainable Utilization of Marine Resources

The course consists of several topics that are partly taught in parallel and integrated with each other, and which together form a whole to deal with topics related to sustainable utilization of marine resources. The course begins with an introduction to the concept of sustainability, with the threefold division of sustainability into environmental, social and economic sustainability, as well as how sustainability can be seen in relation to the utilization of marine resources. The course's first topic includes an introduction to biological oceanography with the most important physical processes and energy flows in the atmosphere and ocean, the importance of the ocean for climate, biological production processes in the ocean, and the energy flow in the food chain. An introduction to ecological mechanisms and environmental impact is covered. The next topic focuses on the opportunities we have today to further increased food production from the oceans, with emphasis on results from recent research. Insight is provided into the history of fisheries, the current global and national situation within the fishing and aquaculture industries and other utilization of biological resources in the sea. Special focus is placed on aquaculture, with a description of global development and the current situation, various species in aquaculture, feed development and access, as well as various processes in aquaculture production systems. Furthermore, insight is given into principles within industrial ecology, and how these can contribute to insight into environmental sustainability within processes related to the utilization of marine resources. Animal welfare in industrial farming systems, with examples from salmon farming, is also given in this part of the course. It then describes the history, development and application of marine technology in vessels for fishing and aquaculture, passive and active fishing gear, infrastructure for aquaculture, including key principles and phenomena related to fishing and aquaculture technology. The technology's impact on the marine environment and seabed, unwanted catch, by-catch, use of selective gear etc are reviewed. The part ends with technology for handling and processing wild-caught fish and ready-to-slaughter farmed fish, to ensure the best possible preservation of the value that is in the fish as a raw material. The course concludes with the management side of marine resources, the current global and national situation within the fishing and aquaculture industries and other utilization of biological resources in the sea, international and Norwegian law and the right to good resource management. Furthermore, an introduction is given to ethical issues, conflicts and conflict resolution, as well as the relations between fishermen and the administration, principles for sustainable development and responsible fishing. Approach to assessment of economic sustainability and relevant principles for cost / benefit assessment, as well as an understanding of the use of a three-parted bottom line for sustainability assessments.

The course will provide students from different study-programmes and disciplines, with an interest in the field of marine resources and aquaculture, a common platform, a common understanding and a common conceptual apparatus that enables them to communicate and collaborate effectively. Sustainability is a key interconnecting theme in the course. Students shall be able to combine insight into nature's physical and biological marine systems with insight into how man-made biological and technological systems for the utilization of marine living resources can be designed, built and operated, in a way that provides environmental, social and economic sustainability.

Lectures and multidisciplinary semester project. The semester project is carried out in groups of four to five students and is organized to provide a good multidisciplinary composition in the group.