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Wageningen University Netherlands, Wageningen

Course overview

Oceans, seas, estuaries and lakes have always been a main source of food for man. For numerous species present exploitation levels have bypassed the carrying capacity of these ecosystems, leading to devastating effects on the biodiversity and ecosystem functions. Therefore Aquaculture is evolving into a multi-disciplinary industry which is sustainable and socially equitable. Fisheries is in transition to Marine Resource Management, from a focus on ‘human centred management’ towards ‘ecosystem based management’. Since society is requesting sustainable fisheries and its certification, also new governance systems are needed. International agreements like the Marine Strategy Framework Directive in Europe requires a more holistic and integrated approach to Marine Governance.

This MSc programme will have three specialisations: Aquaculture, Marine Resources and Ecology (the combination of Fisheries and Marine Ecology) and Marine Governance.

The MSc study programme Aquaculture and Fisheries is broadened from a focus on sustainable forms of fish production to the management and governance of sustainable aquaculture and marine ecosystems.

Education and research is done by Chair Groups which host different special Chairs in specific areas of marine ecosystem studies, e.g., Shellfish farming, Sustainable Fisheries Management, Marine Ecology and Conservation of Marine Mammals. Together with research institute Wageningen IMARES, the Institute for Marine Resources and Ecosystems Sciences Wageningen University provides unique training opportunities in these fields.

Career opportunities

As an alumni of the MSc programme Aquaculture and Marine Resource Management there are many job opportunities. To give you a small 'peek' into the many types of jobs or organisations you can start your career, we've named some of the most probable job types or companies you can work:

As a professional, you usually work in multidisciplinary teams for aquaculture and fisheries companies, feed producers, public aquaria in zoo’s or in ornamental fish production and husbandry.

You can work as a consultant or as policy advisor for multilateral, national and regional governmental agencies or NGO’s (World Bank, FAO, ministries, provinces, water boards, WWF, the North Sea foundation, and many others).

Moreover, at private companies there is an increasing demand for production chain management (e.g. Aholt, Heiploeg).

If you are interested in research, then you can choose universities or research institutes as your future professional environment.

You can also choose to start your own business as a fish producer or consultant. National borders will not hold you back: everywhere you go in the Netherlands, throughout Europe or across the world, you will encounter graduates from this programme.