Call us: +44 (0)1227 789 649 - Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm
Marine Aquaculture
Marine Aquaculture (Mariculture) 100 Hours Certificate Course
NEED HELP?
Learn About Marine Aquaculture
Marine Aquaculture course online. Home Study - Distance Learning - Marine Aquaculture. Gain a better understanding about the general selection and management for farming salt water species of plants and animals.
Course deals with the farming of salt water species of fish, shellfish, seaweed and other marine products. Learn to plan and manage the farming of a wide variety of marine life. Self paced home study, expert tutors, start anytime, 100 hours of learning to give you a sound foundation in marine aquaculture.
The term “Mariculture” refers to a sub-category of Aquaculture that deals specifically with Marine Aquaculture.
According to the FAO the term “Mariculture” (in its present usage) may be defined as:
“The culture of marine organisms, both plants and animals, in an aquatic medium or environment which may be completely marine (sea), or sea water mixed to various degrees with fresh water. This definition would include both the sea and inland brackish-water areas. These can be freshwater or salt water organisms, or have development phases in both types of waters.”
Lessons
Lesson Structure: Marine Aquaculture BAG220
There are 11 lessons:
- Aquaculture Production Systems
- What is Mariculture
- Purposes of mariculture
- Classification of culture systems
- Extensive production (Ep)
- Intensive production (Ip)
- Classifications based on system input
- Open systems (off-shore and near-shore)
- Semi-closed systems
- Closed systems (on shore)
- Common culture method for each marine category
- Cage culture
- Cage design: Floating flexible, floating rigid, semi-submersible and submersible
- Hanging Culture: Raft and suspended trays
- Long-line culture
- Vertical or rack culture
- Bottom culture: Bottom sowing and cultch lines
- Stone, stake culture, net and umbrella culture
- Semi-enclosed: flow through tanks
- Closed Systems (CAS): Recirculating, raceways, and inland ponds
- Starting a Marine Aquaculture (Mariculture) Business
- Economics of establishing and running a farm
- The need for a feasibility study
- Economic analysis
- Requisites for establishing a business
- Factors to consider
- Industry competition
- Availability of leased and quotas
- Economy of scale
- Site selection and water quality
- Properties of salt water
- Water quality management
- Environmental impacts.
- Food chain problems
- Using wild broodstock
- Nutrient pollution
- Chemical pollution
- Spreading pathogens
- Escapes
- Habitat effects
- Managing environmental impacts
- Improving the genetic quality of fish
- Biotechnology
- Choosing a Species
- Choosing a marketable species
- What information is available?
- Understand your competition before selecting a species
- Common mariculture species
- Selection criteria
- Climate
- Water resource
- Finance
- Scale of operation
- Market demand and access
- Availability of animals
- Risk considerations
- Product markets
- Product, price and promotion
- Finfish
- Industry overview
- Types of mariculture
- Broodstock/seed supply
- Growout
- Commonly cultured species
- Tuna
- Atlantic salmon
- Steelhead Salmon (Saltwater rainbow trout)
- Yellowtail (Japanese Amberjack)
- Sea Bass
- Gilt-head sea bream
- Water quality management
- Crustaceans
- Industry overview
- Types of mariculture
- Broodstock/seed supply
- Growout
- Commonly cultivated species
- Penaeid shrimp (prawn)
- Graspid Crabs
- Lobster
- Molluscs and Echinoderms
- Industry overview - molluscs
- Types of bivalve culture
- Broodstock/seed supply
- Growout
- Abalone
- Oysters
- Cultured mussels
- Scallops
- Giant clams
- Industry overview - echinoderms
- Types of mariculture
- Breedstock/seed supply
- Growout
- Commonly cultivated species
- Sea Urchins
- Sea cucumbers
- Seaweeds and Aquatic Algae
- Industry overview
- Types of mariculture
- Broodstock/seed supply
- Land-based cultivation systems
- Tanks
- Ponds
- Sea cultivation
- Farming methods
- Vegetative cultivation
- Cultivation involving a reproductive cycle
- Commonly cultivated species
- Laminaria japonica
- Porphyra sp.
- Undaria sp.
- Eucheuma seaweed
- Pharmaceuticals
- Pharmaceutical value of marine organisms
- Examples of species used in marine biotechnology
- Sea urchin
- Sea cucumber
- Marine sponges
- Seaweeds (algae)
- Diet Formulation and feeding
- Feeding strategies
- Nil input
- Water fertilisation
- Supplementary feeding
- Complete diet feeding
- Fish feed
- Feeding and feed components
- Environmental problems associated with fish feeding
- Mycotoxins in feeds
- Aflatoxins
- Ochratoxins
- Fumonisins
- Trichothecenes
- Managing mycotoxins in prepared feeds
- Health Management â Diseases and Parasites
- Causes of disease
- Health management and mitigation strategies
- Treatment of diseases and parasites
- General principles
- Common signs that fish are unhealthy
- Common diseases of finfish
- Emerging pathogens
- Common diseases of crustaceans
- Common diseases of bivalves (molluscs)
- Harvest and Post Harvest Handling
- Examples of product forms
- Harvest/post harvest handling of selected species
Learning Goals
Learning Goals: Marine Aquaculture BAG220
- Explain general mariculture production systems
- Discuss the factors involved in setting up a business
- Evaluate factors that need to be considered when choosing marine species for aquaculture in your region.
- Explain the commercial production of finfish
- Explain the commercial production of crustaceans
- Explain the commercial production of molluscs
- Explain the use and production of Seaweeds and Aquatic Algae
- Discuss the role of echinoderms in mariculture. Explore the pharmaceutical uses of marine organisms
- Explain general diet formulation and feeding
- Describe issues related to the health management of marine animals used in aquaculture.
Practical (Set Tasks)
Examinations
More Information
Mariculture is a complicated business and anyone who intends entering it should undertake extensive research on the topic. It requires a large investment of time and money over a period of years. By conducting a feasibility study before starting a farming venture, you can determine how much it will cost to operate a farm and if the right conditions for growing a particular species are available.
Given the high start-up costs, most successful mariculture operations target high-value fish, such as ornamental fish, as well as food fish, such as red snapper, salmon, and eels. Shellfish mariculture has a broader product range including clams, oysters, shrimp, scallops, and crabs. Algae are often produced with finfish or shellfish to provide a food source for the primary product.
A major cause of failure in any aquaculture or mariculture operation is poor marketing. In mariculture, farmers are competing with wild-caught commercial species. This can be beneficial, given wild stocks are declining and seasonal availability can produce supply shortages that a producer can fill if he or she can arrange harvests for the times of shortages. However, if wild catches are plentiful, the producer may not be able to sell the product at a price that covers costs.
Assessment
Assessment is based on a combination of completing all assignments and sitting for a final short one and a half hour exam, in your own location.
If you don’t cope well with exams then you may elect to undertake a project instead. This is a popular option.
In addition, most modules have a Set Task at the end of each lesson placed before the assignment. This is an opportunity to undertake practical work to help you acquire knowledge and skills and practical experience. This ADL feature is an added bonus not found at most online schools. Set Tasks are not required for assessment.
Some courses also have optional Self-Tests which are available on our online learning platform. These are not available by correspondence or by USB, and do not form part of your overall grade.
How our courses work
- Choose Your Learning Method
You choose how you would like to receive your course material, i.e., Online, USB or Correspondence. The choice is yours. You may also work on online or offline. - Tutor Allocation
Every student is assigned their own dedicated tutor who is an expert in their subject area. They provide as much or as little individual contact as you require. You can contact your tutor whenever you need – your hours are not limited. - Feedback and Assignments
Tutor Feedback is an essential component in helping you understand the subject matter. Tutor feedback is given in the form of notes written on the assignment. We encourage you to contact your Tutor where help with clarification and understanding of course material may be required.
Your assignments are located at the end of each lesson. You submit them for marking whenever you are ready. There is no time limit. - Set Tasks and Self-Tests
Most modules have a Set Task at the end of each lesson before for the assignment. This is where you get the opportunity to undertake practical work to help you acquire knowledge, skills and practical experience. Many modules also have short Self-Tests. - Exams
Once all assignments have been completed you may then elect to sit for a one and half hour exam in your own location. If you prefer not to take the exam you do have the option to undertake a project instead.
Once the exam or project part of the course is completed, your Certificate is then processed. Please allow approximately 4 weeks for this. - Design Your Own Qualification
ADL offers students the flexibility to self-design their own qualification – bundling together a combination of 100-hour modules into a qualification higher than a certificate.
Career Options
What's Included
What your tuition fees include
- All Course Material via Online, USB or Correspondence
- Assignments Marked
- Professional Tutor Feedback
- Set Tasks - Practical Exercises to help you develop skills
- Self-Tests – multiple choice questions at the end of lessons in most modules
- Unlimited Personal Tutor Support – via our student classroom
- Committed and Friendly Admin Support – vital to your success
- ADL Ebook where relevant
- All ADL Exam or Project fees (exception RHS exams)
- Qualification Certificate
- Official Transcript with assignment grades
- Student Manual
Plus FREE
- Academic Writing course (optional - 10 hours only)
- Critical Thinking course (optional - 10 hours only)
- Job Seekers Careers Guide
- Study Tips on How To Study Better
- Career Counselling by ADL Staff
- CV Writing Help, Tips and Advice