Fisheries Management

Course Code: AQU 706

Course Title: Fisheries Management

Credit Hours: 2 (2+0)

Rationale:

The depletion of production and biodiversity of fisheries resources are a concern in supporting the needs of an increasing population. National and regional management strategies have been applied in different ways at different times. Good knowledge and skills in fisheries resource management are essential to enable the development of management strategies appropriate to real situations.

This course introduces basic approaches and concepts of the different types of aquatic resources and their importance, fish population dynamics, basic fisheries assessment methods, existing management strategies, and management and planning.

Learning outcomes:

At the end of this course, students will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate understanding of the present fisheries resources situation
  2. Demonstrate understanding of fisheries management strategies
  3. Be able to analyze fisheries statistics and assessment methods
  4. Design and develop a basic fisheries programme (or research plan) using fisheries management tools and approaches.
  5. Communicate with/understand stakeholders

Contents

  1. Aquatic resources

1.1. Aquatic habitat

- River, Lake, Reservoir, Pond, Swamp, Rice field

1.2. Aquatic environment

- Wind, Thermal stratification, Eutrophication

1.3. Fisheries resources

-Current status and Types

- Types of fisheries

1.4. Importance of fisheries to livelihood

1.5. Needs for fisheries management

2. Fisheries Assessment

2.1. Fishing gears and technique

2.2. Fish Population Dynamic

- Recruitment, Growth, Migration, Mortality

2.3. Stock assessment

2.4. Catch assessment

3. Fisheries Management Strategies

3.1. Strategies for regulation of fisheries

3.2. Measure for regulation

- Technical measures (Mesh/gear limitation, closed area/season)

- Input control (Licenses, state regulated access, ownership)

- Output control (Quotas, Size limits on fish landed)

3.3. Existing national and regional laws and regulation

- Aquatic Life Protection Act

- FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries

3.4. Fisheries enhancement

- Habitat Management (Weed management, Brush Park)

- Stocking and Carrying capacity

- Culture based fisheries

3.5. Fisheries Co-management

3.6. Community based fisheries

4. Fisheries Management Planning

4.1. Basic consideration for management planning

- Socio-economic

- Stakeholder participation, Gender role

- Cost, Market, Post harvest, By-catch

- Environment

- Biodiversity, Restoration, Hybridization, Transfer of Disease

- Aquatic Environmental Impact Assessment

4.2. Designing

4.3. Implementation of management plans

4.4. Reviewing and amending management plans

5. Case studies (Report and presentation)

6. Seminar (Report and presentation)

7. Field trip and Report

Reference:

  • Berkes, F., Mahon, R., Mcconey, P., Pollnac, R., Pomeroy, R. 2001. Managing Small-Scale Fisheries, Alternative Directions And Methods. IDRC, Ottawa.
  • FAO, 1997. Fisheries management. FAO Technical Guidelines for Responsible Fisheries. No. 4, Rome.
  • King, M. 1995. Fisheries Biology, Assessment and Management. Fishing News Books, UK.
  • Oliver, M.A.R. (Ed.), 2002. Sustainable Fisheries Management in Asia. Asian Productivity Organization, Tokyo.
  • Welcomme, R.L., 2001. Inland Fisheries, Ecology and management. Fishing News Books, Blackwell Science, London.
  • Benegal, T. 1978. Methods for Assessment of Fish Production in Fresh Waters. Handbook No.3. Third Edition
  • Bennett, G.W. 1985. Management of lakes and ponds.
  • HMG. Fisheries Manual-9.
  • Shrestha, J. Fishes, Fishing Implements and Methods of Nepal.
  • United Nations Environment Program. 1988. Environmental Impact Assessment.
  • National Planning Commission, 1992. National Environmental Impact Assessment Guidelines.

Course Schedule

Day Lecture Topics Method
1 Aquatic Resources

Aquatic Habitat

Lecture
2 Aquatic Environment Lecture
3 Fisheries resources Lecture
4 Fisheries resources Lecture
5 Importance of fisheries to livelihood Lecture
6 Needs for fisheries management Lecture
7 Fisheries Assessment

Fishing gears and technique

Lecture
8 Fish Population Dynamic Lecture
9 Stock assessment Lecture
10 Catch assessment Lecture
11 Fisheries Management Strategies

Strategies for regulation of fisheries

Measure for regulation

Lecture
12 Technical measures Lecture
13 Input control Lecture
14 Input control Lecture
15 Output control Lecture
16 Mid Exam
17 National Regional and international laws, regulation    and enforcement

Aquatic Life Protection Act

 Lecture
18 FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible  Fisheries Lecture
19 Fisheries enhancement

Habitat Management

 Lecture
20 Habitat Management Lecture
21 Stocking and Culture based fisheries Lecture
22 Fisheries Co-management Lecture
Community based fisheries Lecture
23 Field Trip to Pokhara
24 Fisheries Management Planning

Basic consideration for management planning

 Lecture

25 Socio-economic Lecture
26 Environment (Aquatic environmental impact    assessment Lecture
27 Designing Lecture
28 Implementation of management plans Reviewing     and amending management plans Lecture
29 Cage/pen culture in lake/reservoir in Nepal Case study
30 Role of women in sustainable fishery management in Nepal Seminar

Aquaculture Video