Course Outline : Shellfish Production (AQUA 4001)
Term: Winter (Jan-Apr 2012)
Last Updated: Nov 2011
Faculty: Dr. Jesse Ronquillo
Laboratory Instructor: Mitchell Moore
Office: Rm. 267 (Continuing Ed), Haley Institute
Office: Rm. 157 (Aqua Wing), Haley Institute
Phone: 902-893-3239                                                        Phone: 902-893-3951
Email: jronquillo@nsac.ca                                                Email: mmoore@nsac.ca             

Week

Lectures: Tues/Thurs 12:30-1:50
Room: 114  Haley Institute

Laboratory: Tues 2:00-4:50
Room:  161 Haley Institute

1

Jan.5. Course outline. Introduction to Shellfish Aquaculture. Lab Report Writing. Group Lab Project. Facility Orientation.

2

Jan 10 & 12.                                              Present Status of Shellfish Aquaculture: North America and the World. Biology and Taxonomy of Shellfish. Biology and Culture of Live Feeds: Phytoplankton and Zooplankton.

Jan 10
LAB: Algal Culture Basics: Autotrophic and Heterotrophic. Microalgal identification and life cycle. Preparations of 125mL flasks. Counting cells. Skills: Aseptic techniques.

3

Jan 17 & 19. Sustainable Shellfish Aquaculture. Hatchery and Grow-out Culture Set-up and Design. Water Quality Parameters: physical, chemical and biological. Environmental chemical and microbial contamination. Natural biotoxins.

Jan 17
LAB: Algal 250 mL transfers. Algae dry weights. Shellfish broodstock conditioning. Diets. Faeces and pseudo-faeces. Faecal dry weights.

4

Jan 24 & 26. Mollusc Hatchery Production and Grow-out Culture Techniques. Mariculture of Shellfish. Restoration/Stock enhancement.

Jan 24
LAB: Algae 1 L transfers.  Zooplankton culture.

5

Jan 31 & Feb 2. Scallop Aquaculture.  Mussel Production.

Jan 31
Microalgal carboy inoculation.  Shellfish Dissections: Mollusk, Crustacean, Echinoderm. Comparative Anatomy of Molluscs.

6

Feb 7 & 9. Oyster Aquaculture: Hatchery and Grow-out Techniques. American, European and Pacific Oysters.

Feb 7
LAB: Kalwall inoculation. Clearance skills: calculations. Salinity tolerance test.

7

Feb. 14 & 16. Clams: Soft-shell, Hard-shell, Manila clams, and Geoduck.   Shellfish Diseases and Invasive Species. Midterm Review.

Feb 14
LAB: Preparation of algal pastes: frozen and freeze-dried. Preservatives. Bacteriology: Agar plating. Testing for Vibrio bacteria.  

Spring Break:  Mid Term Study Break – Feb 20-24, 2011

9

Feb 28.  MIDTERM EXAM.
Mar 1. Abalone Aquaculture.

Feb 28   MIDTERM EXAM

10

Mar 6 & 8. Crustacean Aquaculture: Marine Penaeid Shrimps.  Hatchery and Grow-out.

Mar 6
LAB: Shellfish Spawning and Incubation

11

Mar 13 & 15. Crustacean Aquaculture:  Crayfish and Palaemonid Shrimp.

Mar 13
No Lecture.                                                 Field trip: Canadian Food Inspection Agency. Meat quality.

12

Mar 20 & 22. Crustacean Aquaculture: Lobster and Crab.

Mar 20
LAB: Shellfish larval rearing. Natural Feed and  Formulated Diet. 

13

Mar 27 & 29. Aquaculture Production of Holothurians: Sea Cucumber and Sea Urchin. Research paper deadline.

Mar 27
Group 1 Research Presentations.

14

Apr 3 & 5. Production of Other Potential Shellfish Species. Pearl culture. Issues, Trends, Advances and Prognosis.  

Apr 3 Group 2 Research Presentations. Review: Final Exam