AIMS
Participants are getting insights into the functioning of fishponds and how to manage them.
 
OBJECTIVES
Fish is an important resource in many countries in terms of economic and nutritional supply. There are two sources of fish namely capture fisheries and aquaculture. To optimize and enhance production from these sources, understanding of fish ecology and the factors controlling aquaculture production is a necessity. In order to enhance production, the structure, dynamics and management of the aquatic ecosystems will be of interest. To achieve these objectives, an understanding of the present production status, food habits and the factors affecting distribution of fish in the wild will be evaluated.  Also the role of water chemistry, phytoplankton, zooplankton and fish in culture systems will be assessed. Fish-farming aspects will involve breeding, feeding, harvesting, diseases and parasites, fish processing and preservation. The challenges and risk of intensive fish farming system will be addressed as well as fish health with a view of addressing sustainable fish culture system with manageable environmental effects.

At the end of the module participants will be able to:

·        Evaluate global/national production trends and emerging issues in fisheries,

·        Appraise and apply the ecology of fish to fisheries management and aquaculture exploitation,

·        Evaluate the interaction of fish and the environment (water quality, environmental impacts, etc.),

·        Appraise aquaculture systems and their productivity potential,

·        Understand and assess the role of gender in fisheries and aquaculture,

·        Appraise measures to reduce fish diseases and fish parasites in aquaculture

SUBJECTS
1: Capture fisheries and management
2: Fish ecology
3: Aquaculture

SYLLABUS

Capture fisheries and management: Global and regional production trends; economic contribution of capture fisheries; status and dynamics of inland fisheries; marine fisheries; fisheries management (fishermen, fishing gears, destructive fishing methods and efforts, environmental impacts of fisheries); emerging fisheries issues (e.g. transboundary conflicts, alien species)

Fish ecology: Introduction; temporal and spatial distribution (abiotic and biotic factors); life history and reproduction strategies; habitats and resources partitioning; food habits; trophic relationships; sampling techniques and methods of fish stock assessment; wild fish diseases and parasites

Socio-economics: Communities and fish; fisheries management & aquaculture versus gender; socio-economical challenges in fisheries development (human health, sectoral conflicts, trade, poverty alleviation); policies and emerging issues; economic valuation in fisheries and aquaculture

Aquaculture: Production trends, potential, limitations and risks; site and species selection; water quality and pond management (liming, fertilization, environmental carrying capacity, stocking densities, predation control); main culture systems; key factors affecting fish growth; fish breeding; fingerling production enhancement; manipulation of production systems (feeding rates/frequencies, stocking densities, integrated systems, etc.); nutritional requirements of target fish (tilapia - O. niloticus, African catfish Clarias gariepinus); fish feed formulation; parasites and diseases of zoonotic and economic importance; environmental impacts of aquaculture practices; harvesting techniques; processing and preservation techniques; introduction to mariculture

LECTURERS/TRAINERS
Dr. N. Kitaka, Dr. Njiru, Dr. M. Njeri,  Dr. Charo, Prof. Fiovaranti, J. Manyala, Dr. T. Jembe, G. Winkler, Dr. J. Munguti, Dr. D. Liti, R. Mbaluka, Prof. M. Wathuta.

PARTNERS: Egerton University, Kenya


COURSE LOCATION: Egerton University, Kenya


COURSE FEE (EURO):     € 2,000.-- (tuition fee)

DURATION IN WEEKS:     3 weeks

TIME PERIOD:      April  - May 2014
At the end of the course all short course participants may receive a certificate of attendance. For those participants who wish to finalize their course with an ECTS (European Credit System) certificate, an examination will take place. Please contact the module coordinator for details.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATION:   14^th March 2014