AQUACULTURE

Introduction to the Major

With the continuous growth of the world's population and improvement in living standards, the demand for aquatic products is increasing. However, due to overfishing, fishery resources are becoming increasingly scarce, and the growth of aquatic products can only rely on aquaculture. China is a major aquaculture country, accounting for about 67% of the world's total aquaculture production. 

The development space is increasing, and the demand for talents is also rising year by year. In recent years, the country has increasingly demanded high-level innovative talents who can lead the industry towards modernization, intensification, and green health development. The main purpose of the aquaculture major is to provide excellent professional talents for production, research, management, and education departments in the aquaculture field. It can be foreseen that the employment prospects for aquaculture graduates will become increasingly better.

Training Objectives

1. Political and Ideological Objectives: Love the party and the country, dedication to work, physical and mental health, good moral and scientific cultural literacy; strong sense of social responsibility, compliance with national laws and relevant industry norms, attention to the environmental impact of aquaculture and issues of green sustainable development.
2. Knowledge Objectives: Possess systematic basic theoretical knowledge of aquaculture and strong practical application skills, able to independently analyze and solve complex production practice problems in the relevant professional field by combining emerging aquaculture technologies.
3. Ability Objectives: Have the ability to engage in scientific research, technology development, and management in the fields of healthy aquaculture of aquatic economic animals and plants, nutrition and feed, disease prevention and control, breeding facilities, and smart fisheries, and possess innovative thinking.
4. Quality Objectives: Understand the forefront and development trends of aquaculture, have an international perspective; possess strong communication, planning, expression, interpersonal skills, and teamwork abilities, able to independently or lead a team to implement coordination and management of related industry projects.
5. Lifelong Learning Objectives: Adapt to the needs of national economic and social development, possess strong self-learning and entrepreneurial awareness; able to track the development, industrial upgrading, and structural adjustment of aquaculture and related industries at home and abroad through lifelong learning capabilities, expanding new career development opportunities.

Graduation Requirements

Complete the required number of credits as stipulated in the university's academic program.

Core Courses

Main Disciplines and Professional Core Courses:

• Main Disciplines: Aquaculture, Biology, Environmental Science
• Professional Core Courses: Aquatic Animal Histology and Embryology, Ichthyology, Malacology, Crustacean Biology, Genetics, Microbiology, Aquatic Biology, Aquatic Animal Breeding, Aquaculture Water Chemistry, Aquatic Animal Physiology, Fish Breeding, Crustacean Breeding, Marine Mollusk Breeding, Aquatic Animal Nutrition and Feed, Biological Feed Cultivation, Aquatic Animal Diseases.

Research Directions

1. Aquatic Animal Genetics and Breeding
2. Aquaculture Technology and Management
3. Aquatic Animal Disease Prevention and Control
4. Aquatic Feed and Nutrition
5. Water Environment Protection and Restoration

Degree Awarded

Graduates of the aquaculture major will be awarded a Bachelor of Aquaculture degree.

Career Development

Currently, graduates of the aquaculture major can engage in technical promotion, market development, aquatic product trade, inspection and quarantine, ornamental fish appreciation, teaching and research, administrative management, and other work in the fields of marine science, aquaculture, aquatic animal medicine, etc. 

They can start their own businesses or continue their studies in marine science, aquaculture, veterinary medicine, biology, and environmental science and related disciplines. The employment situation of students after graduation is relatively good. 

Related Majors

• Fisheries
• Marine Chemistry
• Marine Biology
• Ecology
• Food Science
•  Animal Nutrition and Feed

Top Universities Offering Aquaculture Programs in China

1. Ocean University of China
2. Shanghai Ocean University
3. Huazhong Agricultural University
4. Nanchang University
5. Jimei University