BScMinor-MarineLivingResources

BSc Minor ‘Marine Living Resources’

Introduction

Global climate change affects living resource communities and influences the balance between resources, their exploitation and other ecosystem services in coastal areas, sea and oceans. A sustainable, responsible exploitation of marine resources requires also regulatory frameworks and proper governance. The BSc Minor programme Marine Living Resources (24 ECTS) focuses on the use and management of living resources in aquatic ecosystems with a particular focus on coastal zones, seas and oceans. It provides an integrated and comprehensive introduction in the biology, ecology and living conditions of the diversified organisms living in the sea; the complex interactions between life in (marine) water and their physical and chemical environment; the use and management of these resources for food, nature conservation an recreation and the social-ecological dimensions of governance processes for seas and oceans. It integrates concepts and analytical techniques from widely different scientific areas such as marine biology, marine ecology, aquaculture and fisheries and marine policy. The programme offers a window for undergraduate students from Wageningen University and Professional Colleges (VHL) to explore and prepare on a potential specialization at MSc level in the area of Marine Biology, Marine Living Resources Management, Marine Governance and/or Aquaculture and Fisheries.

Learning outcomes Students who finish successfully this BSc Minor are expected to have the following qualities: ·      sufficient knowledge of the biological, ecological, technological and socio-economical key disciplines related to marine life, its use and exploitation and the sustainable management of these resources; ·      understand how the morphological, physiological, behavioral and ecological characteristics of the organisms are adapted to complex ecosystem functions, and how both natural and human induced changes and governance affect marine resources; ·      skills in measuring and analyzing marine organisms, marine ecosystem processes, complex marine ecosystem and fisheries problems, and governance issues; ·      capable to integrate and use knowledge and skills of the mentioned disciplines in specific cases of coastal and marine resources exploration, exploitation and management.

BSc Minor Cordinator

Prof. Johan Verreth, phone: 0317 –(4) 83307,

e-mail: Office.afi@wur.nl

Contact Persons/Lecturers

·      Dr. ir. Rudi Roijackers (AEW), phone: 0317 –(4)84419, e-mail: rudi.roijackers@wur.nl

·      Dr. Nand Sibbing (EZO), phone 0317 – (4)82715, e-mail: nand.sibbing@wur.nl

·      Sr. Simon Bush (ENP), phone 0317 – (4)83310, e-mail: simon.bush@wur.nl

Target Groups

This Minor is interesting for students in the following BSc programmes:

·      BBI – Biology

·      BBW – Soil, Water and Atmosphere

·      BDW – Animal Sciences

·      BEB – Economy and Policy; students must have a VWO exam in Biology or equivalent

·      BIL – International Land and Water Management

·      BMK – Environmental Sciences

Components of the BSc Minor

More information on the content and itinerary of the courses can be found by clicking on the course number.