Course Details - Resilient Fisheries

Contribution to economy and food security

Fisheries plays a vital role in global, national and rural economies and contributes to food security and nutrition. Fish is highly nutritious and serves worldwide as a valuable supplement in diets lacking essential proteins, vitamins and minerals. The primary threats undermining the food and nutrition security potential of fisheries results from ineffective management coupled with poor conservation of habitats.

Fish stocks in trouble

The current status of the world’s living aquatic resources varies but the number of fish stocks in trouble seems to exceed the number that is in a good or excellent state. Overcapacities of the world's fishing fleets, unsustainable fishing practices and weak management systems have been some of the key drivers. Climate change impacts fish and the ecosystems they depend on leading to decreased productivity, species migration as well as conflict over resource use and increased risks associated with more extreme climatic events such as hurricanes. At the same time, demand continues to rise, and fish products are now one of the most widely traded commodities in the world.

Balancing under pressure

One of the primary tasks of the fisheries manager is to balance the pressure on the fish stocks and the aquatic habitat resulting from exploitation with the carrying capacity of natural populations and ecosystems. However its complexity, diversity and dynamics and the involvement of a large number of stakeholders makes fisheries difficult to govern. This requires innovative solutions which can be created when stakeholders are able to meet, share experiences, learn together and contribute to decision making processes.

People-centred fisheries governance

To enhance the contribution of fisheries to food and livelihoods security a transition towards more people centred governance approaches is needed. Strengthened governance in the fisheries sector with involvement of the public, civil society and private sector is required to reduce pressure on the fish stocks and the aquatic habitat, to develop incentives for sustainable ecosystem management and to ensure that the role of fisheries in reaching global food production is considered. When stakeholders are able to meet, share experiences and learn together, innovative solutions can be created to contribute to decision making processes.

Course objectives

In this course which is organised in cooperation with other Dutch and international institutes, you will learn about fisheries governance needed to ensure food, nutrition and livelihood security. It will give you new insights on challenges that fisheries governance faces and explore ways to strengthen it. The course provides a framework in which you will acquire insights and skills to bring stakeholders in the fisheries system together and help them understand each other's perspectives, manage their conflicts and learn together.

Interactive training

The training programme is highly interactive and will allow you to practice a range of participatory methodologies. It uses real-life case studies to illustrate the effect and impact of different management approaches and practices. Training methods include small group activities, role plays, excursions and individual assignments. You will be challenged to apply the concepts learned to your own work situation. The course will be organised in cooperation with Centre for Development Innovation, Wageningen UR along with other Dutch and international institutes working in fisheries governance and management such as FAO.

This course is taught in a blended format: partially online and partially in person in an OKP country

Our courses are currently taught blended and follow this format:

  • Online pre-course assignments for you to get to know WCDI and for us to get to know your work environment and your expectations about the course;
      • Interactive plenary sessions where we share content, review assignments and facilitate exchanging experiences. During those interactive sessions we work with a number of online tools like Google Jamboard, Mural and Mentimeter. A part in online sessions and a part in person;
  • Group work either online or offline where you with other participants address a specific question or do an assignment. Results of these assignments are also shared and discussed during online sessions;
      • Individual assignments where you will read literature, watch videos, and do exercises on your own. These assignments are an essential part of the learning and most of them count for getting the certificate. They are meant to introduce or deepen knowledge and make the link between theory and your own situation. These assignments are reviewed either by peers or facilitators.

In some, but not all courses we go on virtual field visits – showing you ‘live’ situations in the field, or with companies or organisations that we collaborate with. We offer coaching trajectories where we support you one-on-one or in small groups to review your individual learning paths in the course and help with any basic questions you may have.

Online platforms: Zoom and TalentLMS

Internet connection is important for the completion of the course. Not sure about the connection in your area? Send training.cdi@wur.nl an e-mail about your situation.

We use Zoom as a facilitating platform for all our online courses. Our courses take place in general over a 6-8 week period to make the workload and time you spend online manageable.

Our online learning system is TalentLMS. Everything you need — our course programme, chatrooms, assignments, background information are in this system. TalentLMS is easy to operate, can also be accessed by your phone and has an on-and offline functionality. We even organise a technical check-in before the course starts, to test your facilities and get familiar with the tools.

Course planning and certificates

The course workload is approximately 16-20 hours a week (2-2.5 workdays).

The exact programme of your course will be available 2-3 weeks before the start of the course. If you’ve successfully completed your course we send you a digital certificate.

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