Environmental Studies 430 - Fisheries

The dependence of many countries on marine organisms for food has resulted in severe population declines in cod, bluefin tuna, swordfish, and abalone, as well as numerous other marine organisms.  In this seminar we will examine the biological, sociological, political, and economic impacts of the global depletion of fisheries.  Questions addressed will include: What is the scope of extinctions or potential extinctions due to over-harvesting?  How have overfished species responded to harvest pressures?  How are fisheries managed, and are some approaches to harvesting better than others?  How do fisheries extinctions affect the societies and economies of various countries and marine ecosystems? How do cultural traditions of fishermen influence attempts to manage fisheries? Does acquaculture offer a sustainable alternative to overfishing? What is acquaculture’s impact on marine ecology?  Three class hours per week.

Requisites: ENST 120 or BIOL 230/ENST 210 or consent of instructors. Not open to first-year students. Limited to 20 students. Spring semester. Professors Temeles and Dizard.