This program is designed to provide students, from a wide range of academic disciplines, with the education, training and management level skills required to participate in aquaculture development and production.

The goals of this program are to provide students with:

• education and training for employment in a wide variety of fish and shellfish culture vocations.
• management level training needed to ensure the logical & sustainable development of aquaculture industries.

Please refer to the Admissions Section of this Calendar.

This program is taught by a combination of lectures, practical sessions on finfish and shellfish operations, fieldwork and participation in aquaculture workshops. Faculty expertise is supplemented by guest lecturers from industry, government and aquaculture research institutions.

During the first semester, in addition to statistics, finfish, shellfish culture, practical facility maintenance and animal husbandry and site selection, students also receive training in topics such as marketing and research proposal development. A study tour to local aquaculture sites is also included in the first semester as well as several practical field sessions.

The second semester includes courses in finfish nutrition, fish health, business management, aquaculture & the environment, small vessel operator proficiency, aquaculture engineering and handling and processing aquaculture products. During this semester students also complete an in-depth, industry relevant research project designed to develop skills in experimental design, fish handling and aquaculture systems operations. Students also complete practical aquaculture courses which are designed to develop skills in net making, boating safety, seamanship, and marine emergency duties.

The third semester consists of a 13 - week aquaculture work term. Students work on finfish and shellfish farms or within laboratories and support agencies. Linkages for work terms have been established in Canada, the United States, South America, Australia, and Europe and on international development projects.

Program Changes in Response to COVID-19

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic the Senate of Memorial University has approved a Fall 2020 semester that will allow for remote teaching only, and while no decisions have yet been made for Winter 2021, it is possible that course delivery will be of a remote nature as well.

To allow an opportunity for students to gain the practical hands-on training and experience for which we are known, this program will be offered in a modified format for the 2020-2021 academic year.

Term 1 (Fall 2020) will be delivered entirely through remote delivery. While many courses in these programs have a laboratory component, we anticipate using simulation and video demonstration for these labs, where feasible.

Term 2 (Winter 2021) will be offered on-campus if the Province and Country are in a phase that would allow Memorial University to resume on-campus teaching and learning.

If on-campus delivery is not possible in the Winter 2021 semester, we will deliver courses through remote delivery, as is currently planned for the fall semester.

This program has short technical courses that are delivered immediately after the end of winter final examinations. In the event that program delivery is entirely remote over both the fall and winter semesters, this period will be extended to possibly 4 weeks to allow for practical hands-on training and experience, after which students will be eligible to begin their 13-week work term. This practical training period could be delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic situation, and if so then we will reevaluate the structure of the program to allow for the earliest completion of the program.

Evaluation:

Students in Advanced Diplomas must obtain a passing grade of 65% or better in all program courses.

Students who have received a grade of less than 50% in any course will be required to withdraw from the program.

Students who have received a grade less than 65% (but 50% or greater) in more than one program course during a single term will be required to withdraw from the program.

Students who have received a grade less than 65% (but 50% or greater) in one program course will be permitted to remain in the program, provided that course is retaken when offered and passed with a grade of 65% or better. Only one such repeat will be permitted per term. Failure to obtain a grade of 65% in the repeated course shall lead to termination of a student’s program.

Credit Earned: Advanced Diploma in Sustainable Aquaculture

1 Year: 2 semesters plus a 3 month work-term placement.

Normal Start: Fall

Contact: Admissions Officer
(709) 778-0380
1-800-563-5799 (ext. 380)
email: admissions@mi.mun.ca

This program is designed to graduate students with a variety of strengths that can be used in a large array of employment areas.

• The development of practical and technical skills is emphasized throughout the program. Students are exposed to operations on nearby aquaculture sites and receive practical training during laboratory and field sessions.
• Facilities at the Marine Institute have been established in support of a varied teaching and applied research program. A modern aquaculture facility on the main campus consists of a freshwater culture lab, marine culture lab, quarantine / fish health lab, and a live food culture lab.
• Students also have access to food science laboratories, engineering workshops, net loft, flume tank and a registered food processing plant.
• Aquaculture faculty and staff maintain close links with the aquaculture industry through advisory work and research activities. Current research activities are focused on fish nutrition, feed development, shellfish culture techniques, and fish and shellfish health.

A thesis based Masters of Science in Aquaculture Degree is offered by Memorial University. Students in this program may be required to complete selected courses from the Advanced Diploma in Sustainable Aquaculture. Persons wishing to apply for the M.Sc. Program must apply directly to Memorial’s School of Graduate Studies.

The goal of the Advanced Diploma in Sustainable Aquaculture program is to prepare students for careers as aquaculture managers, developers and researchers.

Graduates of the program have gained employment in a range of aquaculture and related fields. These include fish farm management, work as scientists and aquaculture technologists, aquaculture instructors, and work on aquaculture projects in both the developed and developing world.

Graduates of this program also find employment in the following areas: fish farm management, aquaculture advisory agencies, federal and provincial government departments, environmental monitoring, fish health suppliers, consulting companies, fish food manufacturers and aquaculture equipment manufacturers and distributors.

Career opportunities are available in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada and Internationally.