The investigation of living marine resources of the Chesapeake Bay and the Virginia Sea has been a dominating focus of the Virginia Institute of Marine Science / School of Marine Science for over sixty years. In no active subject area has a continuing commitment to research, education and advisory service been so consistent as in Fisheries Science. Today, the Department of Fisheries Science includes faculty with a broad variety of research interests including: finfish, mollusc, crustacean, shark, turtle and marine mammal biology, pathology, parasitology, genetics, and economics. To these research areas, faculty members bring classical skills in ecology, systematics, statistics, population dynamics, physiology, molecular biology, economics, and more.

Scientific information and technical advice based on the experience and expertise of members of the department is provided to the Commonwealth of Virginia, the nation, and the international community on subjects ranging from resource management through vessel operation and product handling to market development.

Both research and advisory functions within the department provide a rich environment for graduate education. The graduate program attracts students with diverse backgrounds and research interests. Graduates find employment as teachers, researchers and resource managers at universities, and in local, state, national and international agencies, and private corporations.

As we move into this new century, the department is prepared to meet the challenges facing our living marine resources. We are also committed to upholding the standard of excellence that characterizes the work of the Institute.

Preparatory Studies

Students interested in graduate study in Fisheries Science should have substantial undergraduate coursework in biology including: physiology, biochemistry, comparative morphology or developmental biology, genetics, ecology and related topics, and evolutionary biology. College physics, chemistry (through organic) and math through calculus are required. Courses in statistics, marine biology and fishery biology may be helpful but are not prerequisites.

Typical Course of Study

In addition to the core courses required of all SMS graduate students, Fisheries students are required to take Marine Fisheries Science (MSCI 528) and an additional quantitative course such as Multivariate Analysis and Time Series (MSCI 625), Experimental and Quantitative Ecology (MSCI 667), Stock Assessment Methods (MSCI 670), or Applied Regression and Forecasting (MSCI 672). Fisheries students are also expected to enroll in the departmental noon seminar (MSCI 601) each spring semester. Other courses offered by the Fisheries faculty include Modeling Biological and Ecological Systems (MSCI 530), Early Life History of Marine Fishes (MSCI 657), Larval Ecology (MSCI 658), Marine Conservation Biology (MSCI 664), Ichthyology (MSCI 666), Malacology (MSCI 668), Fisheries Population Dynamics (MSCI 671), Marine Molecular Genetics (MSCI 673), and Marine Molecular Genetics Laboratory (MSCI 674).

Fisheries Science / VIMS
P.O. Box 1346, Gloucester Pt., VA 23062-1346, USA
Telephone: 804-684-7000; FAX: 804-684-7327

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