Aqua Brochure
Aqua Brochure
Aqua Brochure
AUGUST 2005
WHAT IS AQUACULTURE?
Aquaculture is the farming of aquatic organisms, including fish, molluscs, crustaceans and aquatic plants. This agribusiness sector produces food and food additives, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and neutraceuticals for the worlds consumers. Farming implies individual or corporate ownership of the stock being cultivated and distinguishes aquaculture from the wild harvest fishery.
INDUSTRY NEED
In less than a decade, the Canadian aquaculture private sector has built an industry now worth over $585 million to the national economy, and has produced 14,000 new jobs (direct and indirect) for Canadian workers. Presently, the industry is concentrated on both coasts of Canada, primarily British Columbia and New Brunswick as well as right here in Ontario. There is an urgent need for co-operation between industry, government, and universities to assist in the orderly development of this dynamic new industry.
THE PROGRAM
The primary purpose of this unique and exciting program is to provide an
advanced, interdisciplinary, field of study leading to a M.Sc. degree in Aquaculture. The M.Sc. (Aquaculture) degree is characterized by: I A non-thesis, course-work-based curriculum (6.5 course credits, 12 courses) in an array of disciplines encompassing aquaculture-related topics including: Nutrition Fisheries & Aquatic Sciences Disease Management & Fish Husbandry Business & Economics (in concert with the MBA program) Extension Studies I Integration of hands-on practical experiences at state-of-the-art research facilities I A special research project, meeting the student's particular research interests, in any of the vast number of issues related to aquaculture.
THE GOAL
The ultimate goal of the M.Sc. (Aquaculture) program is to produce students who have an integrated knowledge of the concepts of animal production, and an understanding of the key issues surrounding aquaculture, including advanced scientific technology. It is the objective of this program to provide graduates with the knowledge and skills to enter the industry as team leaders.
INTERDEPARTMENTAL PARTICIPATION
COURSES
Students enjoy the flexibility of choosing courses offered by a large number of academic departments on the University of Guelph campus. In addition, the following specialized courses are designed specifically for the M.Sc. (Aquaculture) program:
An intensive learning opportunity focusing on an applied problem in the aquaculture industry Completion of a literature review and project in concert with hand-on experience with live animals, in either a research project or commercial setting Completion of a final report and oral presentation.
A formal lecture, student seminar and essay course designed to examine the role of science and technology in the aquaculture industry.
Using a problem-solving approach, students will complete a series of modules at the Alma Aquaculture Research Station covering topics in water management, hatchery operations, propagation techniques, feeding and nutrition, health and disease, economics and regulatory issues.
PAMELA WHITE M.Sc. (Aquaculture) Current Status: Employed with New Brunswick provincial government. Special Project: Studies on the detection of Yersinia ruckeri in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) infections. GEORGE RIGOS M.Sc. (Aquaculture), Ph.D Current Status: Fish Nutrition & Pathology Lab, Attiki, Greece. Special Project: The effect of antibiotic treatment on the persistence of asymptomatic infections in fish with Yersinia ruckeri. GREGORY PAGE M.Sc. (Aquaculture), PhD Current Status: Fish nutritionist with Maple Leaf Foods, Ag Research, Guelph, Ontario. Special Project: The effects of long-term feeding of high levels of dietary carbohydrates on non-specific immune parameters in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss).
PAST STUDENTS
Since the inception of the M.Sc. (Aquaculture) program, 25 students have successfully graduated! Of these, 4 have gone on to complete their Ph.D and the others have proceeded to a wide variety of careers.
Top photo: Collecting eggs from rainbow trout. Right photo: Hand feeding rainbow trout during growth study.
PRESENTATIONS
Students have presented their Special Project in Aquaculture at a variety of conferences and workshops.
AQUACULTURE ACCOLADES
RECENT REVIEW OF THE UNIVERSITY OF GUELPH M.Sc. (AQUACULTURE) PROGRAM
External appraisers for the Ontario Council on Graduate Studies (OCGS) conducted a review of the M.Sc. (Aquaculture) program. After a two-day, on-campus evaluation of the program, which included meetings with involved faculty, former and current graduate students and travel to the Alma Aquaculture Research Station, the examiners agreed that the M.Sc. (Aquaculture) program is an excellent graduate program meeting an identified and critical need for Ontario, Canada and the world community. When commenting on the programs curriculum and its ability to prepare students for the workplace, the examiners felt strongly that the combination of course work, research project and practicum at Alma makes for an excellent experience that gives the students an ability to work in aquaculture and other fields. The focus on problem solving in inter-disciplinary studies gives the students abilities that go well beyond aquaculture.
CORE FACULTY RECOGNIZED FOR OUTSTANDING EFFORTS IN TEACHING, RESEARCH AND EXTENSION
Several core faculty of the M.Sc. (Aquaculture) program have received distinguished awards for excellence in research, teaching and extension education.