Fishery biology studies fisheries, which are fish populations used for commercial purposes. It involves studying fish habitats and populations to determine sustainable use. Fishery biologists work for fishing and hunting agencies, conservation organizations, and fish farms to manage populations and protect ecosystems. Degrees in fisheries biology are offered in few colleges and universities worldwide.
Fishery biology is a scientific discipline focused on the study of fisheries. Fishery is a fish population that is used for commercial value and includes saltwater fishing, freshwater fishing, and both freshwater and saltwater fish farms. Fisheries biology degrees are offered in very few colleges and universities around the world, with undergraduate and graduate degrees available. Many degree-awarding institutions are located relatively close to the ocean for the purpose of fieldwork.
Fishing is a delicate system. Fishery biologists study fish habitats and populations, learning about the natural conditions in which fish live, and then expanding their knowledge to determine how a fishery can be used sustainably. In many fisheries it is not uncommon to have multiple species of commercial value, each of which must be treated very differently. Fisheries are also interconnected, with things like agriculture and other land practices having a direct impact on the health of the fishery.
A common employer of fishery biology specialists are fishing and hunting agencies. These government agencies have the dual goal of protecting natural resources and making them available to people and businesses that want to use them. Fish and game representatives do things like issue fishing licenses, inspect catches on fishing vessels to confirm all species are legal, conduct long-term studies of wildlife populations, and inspect fish farms to confirm they are well managed. responsible manner.
Conservation organizations also use fishery biology experts to study fish populations and make policy recommendations. Many fisheries around the world are severely overfished, making the development of new policies very important. Fishery biologists can engage in fieldwork for months and years as they study fish populations and develop a plan to help revive a population without overly limiting the fishing industry. Fishery biologists are very concerned about the protection of productive and sensitive ecosystems and may engage in a variety of techniques from promoting the cause of endangered fish to studying fish in the laboratory to protect the natural environment.
Fish farms also use fishery biologists to manage their populations. The biologist ensures that the habitat is suitable, monitors population numbers, looks for signs of disease, and manages the overall program to keep the fish farm safe, productive, and as environmentally friendly as possible. Some fishery biology concerns that can arise with fish farming include the accidental release of non-native farmed fish into native populations, the spread of disease from fish farms to native fish species, and the habitat destruction that can occur when fish farming occurs. fish farming is too intensive.
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