Restructuring of masters program will benefit students

The Marine Institute is restructuring its Master of Marine Studies (Fisheries Resource Management), MMS (FRM) program to better cater to a unique and evolving student population

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

The Marine Institute (MI) has a long-standing tradition of developing programs to meet the changing needs of the fishing sector. As a direct result, MI is now restructuring its Master of Marine Studies (Fisheries Resource Management), MMS (FRM) program to better cater to a unique and evolving student population. Key among the changes to the program is the introduction of a course based completion option, beginning in January 2012.

Traditionally the program has required the completion of eight mandatory courses plus a major report. The new model provides two options: students may either complete the paper or an additional two courses. Students enrolled in the program before January 2012 will now have the opportunity to move to the course based option if they so choose.

Carey Bonnell, head of MI's School of Fisheries, explains that after 14 years it was felt that the program was in need of restructuring. "The nature of the fishery has changed significantly since the program was initially developed in the mid-1990s," said Bonnell. "A modernizing of the program and course content will enable us to focus on the increasingly global nature of the industry."

The program will also now be available online, increasing accessibility and enabling the Institute to attract graduate students from other regions of the province, Canada and internationally. "Continuing education has long been a priority of the Marine Institute," added Bonnell. "It is important that we continue to offer flexible, accessible and innovative learning experiences to meet the needs of our students. With this new online delivery, students can now continue to work while completing the program."

The re-structuring will also see the addition of new courses related to specific aspects of fisheries resource management including sustainable fisheries, fisheries technology, legal aspects of fisheries resource management and social and philosophical issues of fisheries management. "Many graduates of this program have gone on to become leaders in industry, government and academia," said Bonnell. "It is very important that we continue to stay relevant in our program delivery and collaborate with industry and government to build upon the capacity that already exists here in the province and ensure that the fishing industry remains a key pillar of sustainable economic development in Newfoundland and Labrador."

Since inception in 1997, the program has had 66 registrants and 40 graduates to date. The multidisciplinary program provides an understanding of relevant concepts in biology, economics and business as well as fisheries policy and planning. While focused primarily on the North Atlantic, the program also deals with major world's fisheries as well as fisheries resource assessment methods.