Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences

Welcome to the web site of the Program in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, in the School of Forest Resources and Conservation, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) at the University of Florida. As of July 1, the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences merged with the School of Forest Resources and Conservation (SFRC) and will now be one of three broad programmatic areas within the SFRC along with Geomatics and Forest Resources and Conservation. (Merger Announcement)

Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences provides objective science to support the protection and management of fisheries and aquatic resources, with innovation and excellence in research, education and extension. Faculty have programs in four areas: Aquaculture, Aquatic Animal Health, Conservation and Management of Natural Environments, and Sustainable Fisheries. Many projects span these areas and involve collaboration with other scientists at UF, other universities and institutes, and state & federal resource management agencies.

Research programs address key issues related to fisheries and aquatic resources in Florida, including impacts of nutrients on the State’s headwater springs, the ecology of shallow lakes, ecology and management of freshwater sport fish, development of sustainable aquaculture programs, eco-physiology and impacts of toxic algae blooms, management of fish health, effects of water flow reductions in rivers on fish communities and their critical habitat, and identifying how marine fish respond to variation in bottom substrate, resource availability, fishing pressure and eutrophication.

Graduate students work closely with the faculty on projects spanning the range of Florida's diverse aquatic systems. We emphasize field experiences, development of critical thinking skills, strong faculty-student interactions and other educational experiences to ensure that our students develop a set of core competencies that are consistent with their professional success and sustainable competitive advantage.

Faculty and students participate in innovative extension / outreach activities that take fisheries science to audiences ranging from resource managers and extension agents to school children.

Thank you for visiting this web site. Please use the links above and below to access more information about our programs, answers to frequently asked questions, or to contact faculty or staff.