Aquaculture, Environment, and Society course underway at UW
From 16 March to 1 April, the course Aquaculture, Environment, and Society is taking place at the University Centre of the Westfjords.
The course introduces students to the complex relationship between aquaculture, the environment, and society. Along the way, they explore different aquaculture systems, production methods, and breeding programmes, while taking a closer look at the ecological principles that shape aquaculture in practice.
A major focus of the course is on the environmental side of aquaculture. Students examine topics such as feed-related challenges, alternative ingredients for fish feed, and Integrated Multitrophic Aquaculture (IMTA) approaches. Just as importantly, the course also looks at the wider societal impacts of aquaculture and how the industry can affect local and regional communities.
Field trips are an important part of the course, giving students the opportunity to connect classroom discussions with real-world practice. During the course, students visit companies including Hampiðjan in Ísafjörður, Sjótækni and Arctic Smolt in Tálknafjörður, and Drimla in Bolungarvík.
By the end of the course, students will be able to compare aquaculture systems and production methods, identify common constraints in aquaculture, describe how aquaculture systems interact with the environment, and discuss regulations, environmental monitoring, and the impacts of aquaculture on society.
The course is taught by Dr. Matthias Kokorsch and Dr. Peter Krost. Matthias brings a strong background in regional development, community resilience, structural change, and resource management, with a particular interest in remote and sparsely populated regions. Peter is a marine biologist with long experience in aquaculture, environmental impact assessment, and sustainable marine innovation, including seaweed farming and IMTA approaches. Together, they bring both societal and environmental perspectives into the classroom.
Read more about the course here.
All master's courses taught in 1-3 week modules at the University Centre of the Westfjords and are open to participants from both universities and the business community. If you are interested in attending a single course at the University Centre, you can familiarize yourself with our course catalogue and submit an application for a single course.