M2 - Sustainable Production and Management of Aquatic Bioresources

This course unit begins during the orientation seminar.

During this course unit, students will participate in the planning and implementation of two major annual events in the field of ecology: the Biodiversity Festival (Festi’Versité) and the National Biodiversity Fair (SNB). Since 2008, these events have served to bring together, connect with, and raise awareness of all stakeholders in the professional ecology sector in France.

Working in collaboration with partner organizations (OFB, F-CEN, UPGE, F-CPIE, UM, CNRS, local governments, etc.) and the professional organizing body, students serve as project management assistants for the two events, filling various roles based on their motivations, interests, and abilities (experience, skills, and available training programs) alongside volunteers from other programs (BTS): recruiting and welcoming attendees and speakers, media relations, communications, safety (fire safety, first aid), logistics, fundraising, environmental sustainability… Positions are advertised through job descriptions, and students apply for them during the master’s program orientation seminar.

Organized by an ad hoc structure (currently being established) and under the direction of a steering committee comprising their key stakeholders, these two events involve the participation of students in the Environmental Management master’s program at the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Montpellier as part of their coursework and through their student organizations.

- Festi’Versité, the biodiversity festival. It aims to raise awareness and educate the general public about environmental issues through activities, performances, games, lectures, film screenings, and photography exhibitions. It takes place over a weekend in late October or early November at the Montpellier Zoo.

- The National Biodiversity Fair. Serving as a career and training forum, a scientific and technical conference, and a professional networking event, it features lectures and roundtable discussions, scientific and technical presentations, as well as recruitment opportunities and professional exchanges. The fair takes place over two days in January at the Montpellier Exhibition Center.

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This course covers the various steps involved in setting up and maintaining an aquarium. From sizing and construction to species selection and the associated design. It also covers the laws governing the production and trade of live aquatic organisms, as well as the investment and communication strategies that an institution such as an aquarium must implement to stay relevant and maintain a substantial number of visitors.

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During this course unit, students will apply the skills they acquired in the “Project Management” course unit to a real-world case study—a project to be carried out in groups of 3 to 5 students on behalf of a professional organization (private or public companies, cooperatives, independent professionals, associations, public institutions—including universities and research organizations— local governments, etc.).

The project runs for a period of 4 months, during which students work on it part-time, at a rate of half a day per week (Friday mornings).

The project is designed to enable students to apply their knowledge and skills outside the academic setting by addressing specific needs identified by a professional organization. This project prepares students to address a specific need and act as providers of engineering and design services in anticipation of their upcoming professional opportunities—namely, their end-of-study internship and their first job. The experience is enriching, adds value to a student’s resume, and sometimes leads to an internship or even a job.

The proposed projects are diverse and varied: scientific and regulatory monitoring, state-of-the-art reviews, validation of methods and protocols, data collection and analysis, feasibility studies for creation and innovation, support during the preparation phase for responding to a request for proposals or call for projects, assessments and recommendations, drafting of advisory or training documents, design and implementation of educational and/or instructional activities, design of communication materials, assistance with event organization…

How it works: The EU coordinators and each track coordinator identify and propose topics that will be open to all students across all tracks (mixed-track groups are possible if the topic and student profiles are suitable). Students apply, and the course coordinator reviews the applications and proposes group compositions, which are then quickly approved by the program director. Program directors propose one or more academic advisors for each proposed project.

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This module covers topics related to identifying, quantifying, and modeling the interactions between climate, marine species, and their exploitation.

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Training course offered by UMR MARBEC at its Sète, France, location. This module explores the current context of fisheries and global climate change as they affect the dynamics of marine ecosystems. With the aim of better understanding and predicting the effects of fisheries and climate on marine ecosystems, the course is structured around identifying uses, assessment methods, and modeling of marine resource dynamics.

Summary of the learning unit:

Interactions between resources and fisheries. Analysis of marine trophic interactions. Temporal dynamics of fished fish populations (species alternation, recruitment). Modeling of predator-prey systems. Bioenergetic modeling (DEB model). Analysis and processing of catch and fishing effort data. Data analysis using GLM and GAM.

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The proposed module will include an overview of the main fish farming systems used in Mediterranean and tropical regions, covering their key biotechnical and socioeconomic characteristics as well as the corresponding supply chains, and will also feature visits to production sites. It will focus on presenting the biological foundations of aquaculture as they apply to Mediterranean and tropical species and environments.

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Project management is an essential skill for professionals at the master’s level. This course unit is designed to equip you with the ability to design and manage a project. We will cover the various phases of a project, its financing (diversification of funding sources and budgeting), work, time, and resource planning, teamwork (meetings, conflicts, reporting), and risk management. The course will be delivered through a 6-week “Project Management” MOOC (Core Curriculum or standard track—20 hours of instruction: Core Curriculum (4 weeks) + at least 2 specialization modules) between late September and early November and will be supplemented by various tutorials.

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"This course unit consists of three main sections: I—Physical Characterization and Biogeochemical Cycles of Coastal Marine Ecosystems; II—Biodiversity and Functioning of Coastal Marine Ecosystems; III—Coastal and Maritime Law; Uses, Conflicts, and Integrated Management of the Coastal Zone. This course unit offers students a systemic approach to the study of coastal marine ecosystems from a highly multidisciplinary perspective. The physical structure of these ecosystems will be addressed through courses on their geomorphology and hydrology, with particular emphasis on water interactions with the open sea and their watersheds. Their biogeochemistry will be examined, notably to describe carbon and nutrient fluxes through the water and sediment compartments. Various aspects of their biodiversity will be illustrated to highlight the importance of these ecosystems as habitats for dependent species, with particular emphasis on the role of this biodiversity in their functioning. The coastal zone is densely populated by humans (40% of the world’s population). Particular attention will be given to human uses (e.g., aquaculture) and their spatial planning, including the assessment of their ecosystem services in an economic context, management and protection measures (e.g., Marine Protected Areas, Natura 2000), and professionals involved in managing these environments will share concrete experiences. Finally, the implications of the law of the sea for the management of the littoral and coastal zones will be covered."

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The EU aims to provide an understanding—without a legal perspective—of the coastal areas included in the “public maritime domain,” as well as other coastal and offshore maritime zones, and to illustrate which legal regimes apply to these areas: ownership of these areas, rules governing their use, and rules for their development. This encompasses the fields of the law of the sea, coastal law, urban planning, and maritime environmental law.

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Introduction to Quality Management: Challenges and Principles, Process Approach, Stakeholders, Measurement and Improvement Systems. The Regulatory Context and the ISO 9001 Standard: Certification, Accreditation, and Labeling. Quality and Continuous Improvement Tools and Methods: Activity Description, Problem Solving, Performance Analysis and Improvement. Risk management: concepts and terminology; tools and methods for identifying and controlling risks.

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The Cogithon is a seminar-style course that brings together students with diverse skill sets for six consecutive days at a single location. They work in competing teams on a local environmental issue, as part of a call for projects developed in collaboration with real-world stakeholders in the region. The program alternates between lectures, meetings, site visits, and workshops, enabling students to present a report and a slideshow at the end of the week.

The best projects are presented orally at the end of the week to a panel of professionals.

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