Fish Conservation and Management (CONS 486) - 2015
Instructor: Dr. Scott Hinch (Rm 3022 FSC; scott.hinch@ubc.ca)
TA: Vanessa Minke-Martin (Rm 3627 FSC; vmmartin@alumni.ubc.ca)
Required Readings for lectures (on reserve in library, or see your TA for a copy)
Ross, M.R. 1997. Fisheries Conservation and Management. Prentice
Diana, J. 1995. Biology and Ecology of Fish. Cooper Publishing
Others will be assigned during the term (additional optional readings on reserve)
Lectures and Seminars: Monday 13:00-15:00, Friday 13:00-16:00; FSC 1001
Course Rationale
Living aquatic resources are intensively harvested around the world for food, commercial gain and
recreation. Many fisheries are not being managed in a sustainable fashion. Living aquatic resources also
provide the focus for many non-consumptive recreational and cultural experiences. People place
enormous value on aquatic ecosystems, yet human activities often threaten, degrade or destroy them. The
goal of this course is to provide an introduction to fish conservation and management by: examining
relevant principles of physiology, behaviour, and ecology of fish; over-viewing current issues, common
tactics and institutions involved in fish conservation; and reviewing case studies that demonstrate
conservation and management successes and failures. Current research will be evaluated and critiqued.
Course Components
Lectures
The lectures in this course are divided into three fundamental parts:
 Natural science - fish biology and population ecology
 Fisheries conservation and management – issues, approaches, institutions
 Conservation successes and failures – case studies, principles, paradigms
Seminars
Students will work in groups of three in researching a topic, focused around one key scientific paper
(which can be found at http://faculty.forestry.ubc.ca/hinch/DD_CONS_486.html), but using other
references (minimum 10) as well which may support or contradict the key paper, and present to the class
a summary/review of the general topic, a review of the key papers’ objectives and findings, along with a
critique of the paper, and will lead a class discussion on this material including generating a short list of
relevant questions for the class discussion (30 minute presentation; 15-20 minute questions – total 50
minutes). Emphasis will be on topics not extensively discussed in lecture. It is expected that all students
will actively participate in the discussions and read all key topic papers whose general material is also
testable on the final exam. Two presentations will take place each session (Seminars start Feb 23).
Written Review (review to be handed in same day as relevant seminar presentation)
For each seminar, three students will be individually responsible for written reviews of an orally
presented topic (a topic that is being orally presented by others). Required will be an essay that will
include: a discussion/review of the general topic area, and a summary of the key papers’ objectives and
findings. The essay will be double spaced and will include at minimum 10 relevant references from the
scientific literature (the more, the better), and tables/figures as needed (~15-20 pgs total length, single
spaced total length). Use ‘personal communications’, ‘personal observations’ and information from web
pages very sparingly (these are not as reliable as peer-reviewed literature and will be viewed cautiously
by a reader). All statements of fact must have a reference as well as any one’s interpretation of fact – your
interpretation of fact obviously needs no references. Each written review is to be handed in on the day of
the oral seminar presentation on that topic. For a given key topic paper, seminar presentations and written
reviews should be developed independently!
Note: without a legitimate excuse, all late submissions are docked up to 10% per day.
Evaluation
- seminar presentation 20%
- written review 20%
- seminar participation 20%
- final exam 40%
Lecture Schedule and Topics
Fish Biology and Population Ecology (required readings: Ross Chpts. 1-3; Diana Chpts 2-5)
Jan 5 Introduction to course, assigning seminar topics [Seminar details and assignments]
Jan 9 Metabolism
Jan 9 Bioenergetics
Jan 9 Fecundity, reproductive strategies, and individual growth
Jan 12 Population growth; competition; predation risk
Jan 12 Trophic pyramids, food webs, and trophic cascades
Jan 16 Reservoir ecosystems
Jan 16 Ocean ecosystems
Fisheries Conservation Issues & Management Approaches (required readings: Ross Chpts 4,5,7-11)
Jan 16 Traditional management use of life history and production information
Jan 19 Fisheries exploitation
Jan 19 Fisheries overexploitation
Jan 23 Harvest regulations
Jan 23 -continued
Jan 23 Manipulating and managing habitats
Jan 26 Manipulating biotic communities
Jan 26 Hatcheries and Conservation
Jan 30 -continued
Jan 30 Imperiled and extinct fishes
Jan 30 -continued
Case Studies: conservation & management successes and failures (required reading: Ross Chapter 12)
Feb 2 Northern Atlantic cod
Feb 2 Atlantic striped bass
Feb 6 Aquaculture and the Cohen Commission (Guest Lecturer: Kristi Miller)
Feb 13 Small lake rainbow trout management in BC (Guest Lecturer: Eric Parkinson)
STUDENT SEMINARS - Feb 23, 27, Mar 2, 6, 9, 13, 16, 23, 27, 30, Apr 10
No lectures or seminars - Feb 9, 16, 20; Mar 20, Apr 3, 6