Course content

NB! As of February 2023, it is unclear whether the course will be available spring term 2024.

The course will provide a wide introduction in RAS for aquaculture and how the correct water treatment contributes to creating a stable and optimal water environment in the system. Design, dimentioning, start-up and management, waste handling, resource utilization, risk assessment and action plans will be treated.

The course will maintain an interdisciplinary profile where technological function and the influence of biological, microbiological, chemical and physical factors will be seen in connection to each other.

The course will cover RAS for fresh, brackish and sea water for the production of smolts, postsmolts and growout salmonids as well as marine fish. The course will provide Insight in how the requirements of technology and treatment methods change depending on species and life stage.

Learning outcome

After the course the participant shall have:

Insight into the most important biological requirements and mechanisms that have implications for the Growth, survival and welfare of the fish in aquaculture and especially in RAS.

Overview of the different forms of water treatment that is necessary in a RAS and knowledge about which unit processes can be used and how these Works and affect the water quality and each other.

Knowledge about which factors that can have implications for the management of RAS for different relevant water sources, life stages and species of organisms.

Enough knowledge to evaluate how well the most important parts of a planned RAS will work.

After the course, the participant should be able to:

use the correct measuring methods and information to evaluate the need for and the effect of different forms of water treatment in RAS, understand scientific literature about aquaculture and RAS in English. Communicate well With Suppliers that designs, builds and delivers RAS, and the participant should have the background to know which parts that are important when buying and building new RAS.

Learning methods and activities

Lectures, excursion and assignments. Web-based project assignment.

Compulsory assignments

• Participation

Further on evaluation

Project assignment weighted 100%. Pass/no pass.

Specific conditions

Recommended previous knowledge

Some practical and/or theoretical background from aquaculture or water treatment. Target persons: persons With experience from aquaculture that wants expertise in RAS. Employees in the aquaculture business, like operating personell, chief biologists, and others working on fish farms like fish veterinarians, government employees, Insurance Companies insuring RAS, employees in supplying businesses, and teachers at schools teaching aquaculture.

Required previous knowledge

Higher education or long experience that can be documented. Be able to understand English.

Course materials

The book "Aquaculture Engineering" 2nd edition 2013 av Odd-Ivar Lekang.

The booklet "Recycling of water in hatchery production - Background Booklet for courses in recycling technology for hatchery production" 2nd edition 2017 av Fjellheim, A.J., Hess-Erga, O.-K., Attramadal, K.J.K., Vadstein, O., NIVA, NTNU, SINTEF, Marine Harvest and Scottish Sea Farms, 28 pp.

Selected scientific publications and notes from lectures.

Credit reductions