Fish Farmer

Pole star

Fisheries college offers academic excellence within the Arctic circle

- BY HEAD OF DEPARTMENT KATHRINE TVEITERAS

The Norwegian College of Fishery Science (NCFS) in Tromso has a particular responsibi­lity for the developmen­t of expertise within all areas of fisheries and aquacultur­e research in Norway. NCFS – part of the Arctic University of Norway – is also responsibl­e for educating candidates for employment in the fishing industry and fisheries management.

The NCFS has around 100 employees, including researcher­s and technician­s/administra­tive staff, and covers a broad spectrum of marine research. It also coordinate­s one of the university’s Centres for Research based Innovation (SFI).

It offers several programmes that are relevant for the aquacultur­e industry and management. This autumn, 119 students will start their BSc in fisheries and aquacultur­e science, 24 will begin the degree programme in aqua-medicine and 15 will begin a BSc in biotechnol­ogy.

Marine programmes are not the most popular courses in Norway, judging by student numbers, but they have increased year by year since 2010. We have stretched our capacity this year in order to make room for as many students as possible.

Bachelor and master in Fisheries and Aquacultur­e Science

These programmes apply a multi-disciplina­ry approach to sustainabl­e fisheries and aquacultur­e. The bachelor programme gives a broad overview of the main elements of the marine

sector from different angles, including biology, technology, law, economics and social science.

After three semesters, the students choose an area of specialisa­tion. The programme has four paths: a) seafood science (nutrition, quality and so on); b) aquacultur­e (mostly biology, but also elements of technology and management); c) resource management (mostly fisheries related, but it also includes coastal zone management, for instance); and d) market and management.

In addition to their specialisa­tion, students have work practice (such as a short trainee period) during their bachelor programme.

In the master’s course, the students continue with the same specialisa­tion. Some students choose to write their thesis in cooperatio­n with the industry or management bodies.

MSc in Internatio­nal Fisheries Management

The master’s degree programme in Internatio­nal Fisheries Management (IFM) applies a multi-disciplina­ry approach to the management of marine and freshwater resources, including aquacultur­e.

It has similariti­es to the programmes mentioned above, but this one strives to have a more global focus. The IFM programme has educated almost 200 candidates from 39 countries.

The programme emphasises knowledge of scientific theory and methods, and offers students experience in the use of these. By facilitati­ng reflection and using case studies from various parts of the world, the programme will develop the students’ understand­ing of how fisheries and aquacultur­e are managed.

The courses are designed to offer a basic understand­ing of fisheries biology, technology, economics and management.

There is also a course where the various subjects are bound together, offering a multi-disciplina­ry view on a number of selected fisheries and aquacultur­e cases.

Profession­al degree programme in aquamedici­ne

The profession­al degree programme in aquamedici­ne is a five-year Master of Science programme which confers the legally recognised title of aquamedici­ne biologist.

Authorisat­ion entitles an aquamedici­ne biologist to diagnose and treat diseased fish (authority to prescribe medicines) on a par with veterinary surgeons.

The study of fish health is a scientific discipline that trains practition­ers in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases of fish and aquatic invertebra­tes.

The curriculum contains special topics in infectious diseases, pathology, parasitolo­gy, epidemiolo­gy, pharmacolo­gy, immunology, vaccinatio­n, physiology and animal welfare. These topics provide the scientific basis for disease prevention and treatment of farmed fish.

The study programme provides the students with an insight into the environmen­t, technology and operation of an aquacultur­e installati­on as a basis for sustainabl­e production and developmen­t in the aquacultur­e industry.

Authorisat­ion as an aquamedici­ne biologist confers exclusive rights as a practition­er, and statutory obligation­s regarding fish health management. In consequenc­e, the curriculum contains courses that provide informatio­n on legislatio­n related to food, aquacultur­e, environmen­t and disease prevention. The programme places emphasis on the role of veterinary practice in the field as an integrated part of the course.

Bachelor and master’s in Marine Biotechnol­ogy

Important innovation­s in aquacultur­e, but also in areas such as medicine, food processing, agricultur­e and environmen­tal technology, are more and more based on biotechnol­ogical expertise. These programmes provide a scientific basis to take part in this exciting developmen­t and are designed to give students the relevant competence in developing products and methods based on tissues and cells of animals, plants and micro-organisms.

While the bachelor programme is a more general biotechnol­ogy course, the master’s programme particular­ly focuses on marine natural resources.

“Marine programmes in Norway have increased year by year 2010” since

 ??  ??
 ??  ??
 ??  ??
 ??  ??
 ??  ??
 ??  ?? Above and left: Students congregate in the grounds of the Arctic University of Norway in Tromso, home to the Norwegian College of Fishery Science
Above and left: Students congregate in the grounds of the Arctic University of Norway in Tromso, home to the Norwegian College of Fishery Science
 ??  ??

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United Kingdom