Fisheries Science and Management

Fisheries Science and Management is the applied science dedicated to the stewardship of fish populations and their aquatic habitats. As a specialized field within wildlife management, it integrates principles of limnology, oceanography, ecology, and population dynamics to understand the complex interactions within aquatic ecosystems. Professionals in this field collect and analyze data on fish life cycles, population structures, and habitat health to develop and implement strategies—such as setting catch limits, establishing fishing seasons, and restoring degraded environments—that ensure the long-term sustainability of both commercial and recreational fisheries while conserving aquatic biodiversity.

1. Introduction to Fisheries Science and Management
   1. Defining Fisheries Science
      1. Scope of Fisheries Science
      2. Major Disciplines within Fisheries Science
         1. Biology and Ecology
         2. Population Dynamics
         3. Stock Assessment
         4. Habitat Science
         5. Genetics
         6. Aquaculture
   2. Defining Fisheries Management
      1. Principles of Fisheries Management
      2. Objectives of Fisheries Management
         1. Biological Sustainability
         2. Economic Efficiency
         3. Social Equity
         4. Ecosystem Health
   3. Scope and Interdisciplinary Nature
      1. Integration of Biology
      2. Integration of Ecology
      3. Integration of Economics
      4. Integration of Sociology
      5. Integration of Anthropology
      6. Role of Policy and Governance
      7. Mathematical and Statistical Methods
   4. History of Fisheries Management
      1. Early Management Efforts
         1. Traditional and Indigenous Practices
         2. Early Regulatory Measures
         3. Common Pool Resource Management
      2. Evolution of Scientific Approaches
         1. Emergence of Stock Assessment
         2. Development of Management Frameworks
         3. International Cooperation and Treaties
         4. Modern Fisheries Science Development
   5. Importance of Fisheries
      1. Economic Significance
         1. Contribution to National Economies
         2. Employment and Livelihoods
         3. Fisheries in Global Trade
         4. Value-Added Processing
      2. Social and Cultural Value
         1. Food Security and Nutrition
         2. Cultural Traditions and Heritage
         3. Recreational and Subsistence Fishing
         4. Community Identity
      3. Ecological Role
         1. Role in Aquatic Food Webs
         2. Influence on Ecosystem Structure and Function
         3. Indicator of Environmental Health
         4. Biodiversity Conservation
   6. Key Terminology and Concepts
      1. Stock
         1. Definition and Types of Stocks
         2. Stock Identification Methods
         3. Stock Units and Boundaries
      2. Recruitment
         1. Definition and Importance
         2. Factors Influencing Recruitment
         3. Recruitment Variability
      3. Yield
         1. Types of Yield
         2. Sustainable Yield
         3. Economic Yield
         4. Yield per Recruit
      4. Fishing Mortality
         1. Definition and Measurement
         2. Implications for Management
         3. Fishing Mortality Rate
      5. Natural Mortality
         1. Sources of Natural Mortality
         2. Estimation Methods
         3. Age-Dependent Mortality
      6. Bycatch
         1. Definition and Types
         2. Ecological and Economic Impacts
         3. Discards