Course Title: Aquaculture

Course Code: ZOL-609

Credit Hours: 4 (3+1)

Class: MSc 3rd (Regular + Self)

The course aims to:

• To equip the students with advanced knowledge about aquaculture, its development and future role in human nutrition. This will enable the young students to understand the principles of aquaculture and its relationship with biological systems which is important for better planning and management of aquatic resources in Pakistan.
• To teach about different aquaculture species, their rearing facilities and management by using advanced techniques.

Major areas of this subject include:

• The concept of aquaculture; principles of aquaculture management.
• Aquaculture in raceways, cages and enclosures.
• Use of wastewaters in aquaculture.
• Mari-culture.
• Aquaculture in fresh and brackish waters.
• Aquaculture in practice: Culture of algae, seaweeds, mollusks and crustaceans.
• Integration of aquaculture with agriculture, poultry and livestock farming.
• Culture of freshwater prawns and shrimps.
• Artificial feeds for aquaculture.
• Role of biotechnology in sustainable aquaculture development

Course Requirements:

In order to successfully complete this course, you should regularly attend classes and prepare the given assignments. The quality of your work will be graded with regards to originality, the rationality of your opinions and the content relevancy. You are expected to use peer-reviewed literature resources to support your thoughts, ideas and opinions. Active participation in all class-based activities is mandatory for succeeding in this course.

Course Contents:   

The concept of aquaculture; principles of aquaculture management. Aquaculture in raceways, cages and enclosures, comparative aquaculture economics of a cage, raceway and enclosure. Use of wastewaters in aquaculture. Mari-culture: Substrate system, seawater ponds. Aquaculture in fresh and brackish waters. Aquaculture in practice: Culture of algae, seaweeds, molluscs and crustaceans. Integration of aquaculture with agriculture, poultry and livestock farming. Culture of freshwater prawns and shrimps: History of development, present status, breeding requirements, incubation and hatching of eggs, rearing of larvae and juveniles. Artificial feeds for aquaculture: Feed constituents, diet formulation and processing. Role of biotechnology in sustainable aquaculture development.

Practicals:

• Determination of water quality for aquaculture.
• Determination of metals (Cd, Zn, Co, Mn, Fe) in water, plankton and fish.
• Fish feed formulation and processing.

Readings:

1. Metha, V. 2009. Fisheries and Aquaculture Biotechnology. 2nd Ed. Campus Books International, New Delhi, India.
2. Sharma, O. P. 2009. Handbook of fisheries and aquaculture. Agrotech publishing academy, Udaipur, New Delhi, India.
3. Stickney, R. R. 2009. Aquaculture: An introductory Text CAB Publishing, London, UK.

Lectures Schedule:

MSc 3rd Regular                               Theory:        Monday:         12:00 – 1:00     

                                                                                 Tuesday:        1:00 – 2:00

                                                                                 Wednesday:   1:00 – 2:00   

                                                            Practical:     Thursday:       12:00 – 2:00

MSc 3rd Self-Support                        Theory:         Monday:         11:00 – 12:00     

                                                                                   Wednesday:   1:00 – 2:00

                                                                                   Friday:            3:00 – 4:00

                                                            Practical:      Thursday:       10:00 – 12:00

Assessment criteria:

• Sessional: 10%
  • ​Presentation: 5%
  • Participation: 5%
• Practical: 15%
• Final exam: 50%
• Midterm exam: 25 %

Course Schedule:

Week 1: The concept of aquaculture.

Week 2:  Principles of aquaculture management.

Week 3: Aquaculture in raceways, cages and enclosures.

Week 4: Comparative aquaculture economics of a cage, raceway and enclosure.

Week 5: Use of wastewaters in aquaculture.

Week 6: Mari-culture: Substrate system, seawater ponds.

Week 7: Aquaculture in fresh and brackish waters.

Week 8: MID EXAMS

Week 9:  Aquaculture in practice: Culture of algae

Week 10: Aquaculture in practice: Seaweeds, mollusks and crustaceans.

Week 11: Integration of aquaculture with agriculture, poultry and livestock farming.

Week 12:  Culture of freshwater prawns and shrimps: History of development

Week 13: Culture of freshwater prawns and shrimps: present status and breeding requirements.

Week 14: Culture of freshwater prawns and shrimps: incubation and hatching of eggs, rearing of larvae and juveniles

Week 15: Artificial feeds for aquaculture: Feed constituents, diet formulation and processing.

Week 16: Role of biotechnology in sustainable aquaculture development.

Week 17: FINAL EXAM