Shellfish Aquaculture Course

Lesson 1 • Feeding Biology and Nutrition

Explains filter-feeding mechanisms and nutritional requirements of farmed mollusks. Connects feeding biology to site selection and productivity planning.

Lesson 2 • Environmental Tolerances and Stress Responses

Defines salinity, temperature, and pH ranges for key species. Prepares students to interpret environmental data and anticipate stress-related losses.

Lesson 3 • Anatomy and Physiology Essentials

Examines internal and external structures of bivalves and gastropods. Links anatomical knowledge to health assessment and husbandry practices.

Lesson 4 • Mollusk Taxonomy and Classification

Covers the major classes of mollusks and their distinguishing features. Establishes the taxonomic framework used throughout the course.

Lesson 1 • Hydrodynamics and Water Flow Analysis

Covers tidal patterns, current velocity, and water exchange rates critical to farm productivity. Connects flow dynamics to stocking density and gear placement decisions.

Lesson 2 • Seabed and Substrate Evaluation

Examines sediment type, organic load, and bottom stability for bottom culture suitability. Guides gear anchoring and lease boundary decisions.

Lesson 3 • Regulatory and Permitting Frameworks

Introduces coastal use permits, water quality classifications, and environmental impact requirements. Prepares students to navigate approval processes before farm establishment.

Lesson 4 • Water Quality Parameters

Teaches measurement and interpretation of salinity, temperature, dissolved oxygen, and turbidity. Establishes baseline quality benchmarks for species-specific site suitability.

Lesson 1 • Broodstock Selection and Conditioning

Covers criteria for selecting healthy broodstock and conditioning protocols to synchronise spawning. Establishes genetic and health baselines for seed quality.

Lesson 2 • Larval Rearing Systems

Explains tank design, water exchange, and feeding regimes for D-veliger through pediveliger stages. Builds competency in daily larval management and record-keeping.

Lesson 3 • Spawning Induction Techniques

Describes thermal, chemical, and strip-spawning methods used to trigger gamete release. Connects induction method choice to species biology and hatchery scale.

Lesson 4 • Microalgae Culture for Hatcheries

Covers algae species selection, culture maintenance, and contamination control for hatchery feed production. Ensures a reliable in-house food supply for larval and nursery stages.

Lesson 1 • Transition to Field Deployment

Prepares students to harden juveniles and plan the timing of field transfer. Connects nursery performance data to gear selection and stocking decisions in the field.

Lesson 2 • Stocking Density and Growth Optimisation

Teaches density-dependent growth relationships and methods to set optimal stocking rates. Links density management to feed availability and juvenile condition indices.

Lesson 3 • Upweller and Downweller System Design

Explains flow-through nursery system configurations and their suitability for different production scales. Connects system design to water quality maintenance and feeding efficiency.

Lesson 4 • Juvenile Health Monitoring

Introduces visual and microscopic health assessment methods for nursery-stage animals. Establishes early detection practices that reduce mortality before field transfer.

Lesson 1 • Stocking, Thinning, and Rotation

Teaches stocking rate calculations, thinning schedules, and rotational use of grow-out areas. Optimises space use and prevents density-dependent growth suppression.

Lesson 2 • Bottom Culture Methods

Covers broadcast seeding, relay culture, and predator exclusion on natural and prepared substrates. Establishes the lowest-cost grow-out option and its site requirements.

Lesson 3 • Off-Bottom and Suspended Culture

Explains longline, rack-and-bag, and lantern net systems for suspended grow-out. Connects gear choice to tidal exposure, wave energy, and species requirements.

Lesson 4 • Gear Maintenance and Longevity

Covers inspection schedules, repair techniques, and storage practices to extend gear service life. Reduces capital replacement costs and prevents catastrophic gear failure.

Lesson 1 • Biosecurity Planning and Implementation

Covers movement controls, disinfection protocols, and quarantine procedures to prevent pathogen introduction. Establishes farm-level biosecurity as the primary disease prevention tool.

Lesson 2 • Diagnostic Methods and Sampling

Teaches histology, PCR, and culture-based diagnostic techniques applicable on-farm and in labs. Connects accurate diagnosis to appropriate treatment and reporting obligations.

Lesson 3 • Predator and Pest Management

Addresses control strategies for starfish, crabs, drilling snails, and bird predators. Integrates physical and behavioural deterrents into routine farm operations.

Lesson 4 • Harmful Algal Bloom Response

Explains biotoxin accumulation, monitoring programmes, and harvest closure protocols during algal bloom events. Prepares students to protect product safety and minimise economic losses.

Lesson 1 • Harvest Timing and Market Size Standards

Covers size grading criteria, condition index targets, and seasonal timing for optimal product quality. Links biological readiness to market demand and pricing cycles.

Lesson 2 • Harvesting Methods and Equipment

Describes hand harvesting, mechanical dredging, and hydraulic harvesting equipment for different culture systems. Connects method selection to product quality and labour efficiency.

Lesson 3 • Food Safety and Traceability Systems

Introduces shellfish sanitation programme requirements, lot tagging, and chain-of-custody documentation. Ensures students can meet regulatory traceability obligations from harvest to buyer.

Lesson 4 • Cold-Chain Management and Storage

Covers icing, refrigerated storage, and temperature monitoring to maintain live shellfish quality. Connects cold-chain integrity to shelf life, food safety compliance, and buyer requirements.

Lesson 1 • Marketing and Sales Channels

Examines direct-to-consumer, wholesale, and restaurant sales channels and their margin implications. Prepares students to position their product and negotiate with buyers.

Lesson 2 • Production Planning and Record Systems

Teaches production scheduling, inventory tracking, and data management for continuous improvement. Links accurate records to regulatory compliance and business decision-making.

Lesson 3 • Risk Management and Business Resilience

Identifies production, market, and climate risks and introduces mitigation strategies including insurance. Prepares students to build adaptive capacity into their farm business model.

Lesson 4 • Environmental Sustainability Practices

Covers ecosystem services provided by bivalves, carrying capacity management, and habitat stewardship. Positions sustainable practices as both ethical obligations and market advantages.