Educational Programs

University of Victoria

Coastal Aquaculture Research & Training (CART) Network

* Stephen F. Cross, Ph.D.                            Mark Flaherty, Ph.D.
  Director – Temperate Region Initiatives        Director – Tropical Region Initiatives

The University of Victoria CART-Network comprises a multidisciplinary team of scientists that form an intra-university collaborative network to address research and training initiatives associated in coastal aquaculture. Working on both temperate and tropical region programs, the CART ‘network’ also extends to the working relationships we have developed with other institutions, both within Canada and abroad.

An aquaculture field course, to be held exclusively at the Pacific SEA-Lab facilities, is currently under development. A description of the proposed course – intended for graduate students interested in pursuing research in the field of aquaculture – is provided below.  We hope to offer the course in summer/2008.

Production Systems and Field Research Techniques
in Coastal Temperate Latitude Aquaculture Industries

Description:
This course Component will offer graduate students hands-on training in all production and husbandry methods currently used in coastal temperate region aquaculture.  In considering a career in aquaculture research, students will require a working understanding of farm operational protocols, including aquatic animal health safeguards, on-site safety/emergency procedures, boat handing, routine monitoring/data-logging, infrastructure configurations (e.g., anchoring), implications of farm operations/infrastructure to potential survey/sampling conflicts, and the visiting researchers responsibilities with respect to each of these considerations.  This field component will also review various survey and sampling methods (instrumentation) available to researchers, including implementation approaches to protect equipment as well as farm integrity.  Time will be allocated for short-term directed research at the R&D Farm.

Duration: 4 weeks (full-time) - July or August starting periods
Format: 3-hour lecture/field demonstrations each day. 
Remaining time dedicated to directed research projects
Evaluation:  Single Final Exam – 35%        Research Project paper – 65%

This course will be held exclusively at the Pacific SEA-Lab Field Station (see facilities).