Course Title / BIOL 3505: Oyster Aquaculture and Restoration
Short Title / Aquaculture
Level / 3 (advanced)
Credit / 6
Course Coordinator / V Thiyagarajan
Teachers Involved / V Thiyagarajan (100%) and Guest Teachers (Aileen Tan from University Sains Malaysia; Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (HKSAR) and Oyster Growers Association (HKSAR)
Course Objectives / ·  Introduce larval biology and hatchery technology;
·  Provide scientific basis for coastal aquaculture through field demonstrations and laboratory exercises;
·  Enable students to design, construct and maintain larval hatchery for production of seeds for aquaculture and restoration of wild oysters;
·  Understand the reasons for restoration of marine, estuarine and coastal ecosystems
·  Facilitate transfer of academic knowledge to aquaculture for sustainable food production
Course Contents & Topics / This experiential learning course is to enhance students’ knowledge in applied larval biology techniques and advanced coastal aquaculture production systems that will enable them to design, construct, operate and maintain oyster aquaculture facilities for food production and restoration of wild population. This is an interdisciplinary endeavor encompassing larval hatchery technology, aquaculture and economic dimensions of the marine environment. After reading about basic oyster biology and coastal aquaculture topics, we will focus on how larvae will be useful for human society through hatchery technology and aquaculture. Environmental issues, legislation pertaining to coastal aquaculture and community interaction will also be covered using oyster farming in Hong Kong as an example. Students will learn why oyster habitat is declining in Hong Kong and would also explore scientific and management ways to restore oyster habitat. Students will be exposed to few aquaculture facilities in Hong Kong and will be taken to Penang (Malaysia) to learn practical skills of oyster farming. This course is designed to meet the needs of an expanding sustainable aquaculture in Hong Kong. Students will be exposed to a unique learning environment involving not only HKU but also teachers from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), bringing with them diverse range of expertise, culture, and learning opportunities. Career and small scale business opportunities in aquaculture industry will be discussed. Thus, students will be provided the necessary basic scientific knowledge, and analytical capabilities for a successful career in larval biology research and aquaculture.
Pre-requisites / Pass in BIOL2103 or BIOL2306 or BIOL 3301 or BIOL 3303 or ENVS1301 or ENVS 1401
Course Learning Outcomes / Students will be able to:
·  examine the influence of environmental variables on larval development and recruitment, and consider the potential effects of these variables on hatchery and farming
·  acquire skills and experiential learning opportunities (e.g. hands-on experiences at laboratories and farms) in oyster hatchery and farming
·  explain the importance of oyster farming in coastal habitat restoration
·  plan and execute a commercially important research project in larval biology and aquaculture
Offer in Academic Year 2016-17 / Yes
Availability in 2015-16 / Yes, in SECOND semester but during June 1 to 15
Course Teaching & Learning Activities (study load/contact hours) / 1st week: Lectures, practical’s and field trips in in Hong Kong
2nd week: Lectures and field trips in Penang (Malaysia)
Lecture/tutorial – contact hours (25 hours), Field trip – contact hours (25 hours), and hands on training (25 hours)
Assessment method and Weighting / Written Examination (25%)
Practicals (25%)
Presentation - developing innovative ideas for sustainable and economically viable aquaculture in Hong Kong (50%)
Course Grade (for Faculty Office use only) / A-F
Grade Descriptors / YES
Course Status with related major/minor / Elective for all Science Majors
Quota / 20
Required/recommended reading and online materials / Shellfish Aquaculture and the Environment (S.E. Shumway, John Wiley & Sons)
Molluscan Shellfish Farming (Brian Spencer, John Wiley & Sons)
Course Website
Course Type / Field camps
Course offered to HKU SPACE Community College students / Only HKU
Additional Course Information / ·  Taught and trained by several teachers, guest lecturers from government and aquaculture business sector
·  Tentative duration: 1-15 June, 2017 (in-between there are plenty of rest time and free days, e.g. for site seeing in Penang)
·  First 3 days at HKU for lectures, practicals and field visits – then flight to Penang to visit various oyster aquaculture facilities and to learn sustainable oyster aquaculture production business. The last 2 to 3 days at HKU for finishing off the course.
·  Course Fee: Eight (80%) percent of the students course cost (including flight ticket, accommodation and local transport at Penang) is sponsored by the Science Faculty Experiential Learning Fund, besides staffs 100% cost. Therefore students are required to pay only 20% of their cost which is about HKD 1000.