Classes Offered

The following is a list of courses taught by Dr. Kerr

This course introduces the foundational concepts of fisheries science, covering the assessment, conservation, management, and utilization of fisheries resources. Students gain a broad overview of global fisheries, including major species of interest, common fishing gears, the theory and practice of fishing and the relationship between ecosystem and fisheries production. Core topics include the data requirements for fisheries management, methods of fishery independent and dependent data collection, fish population dynamics, stock assessment, and management.

The course combines lecture, discussion, and applied learning. Students engage in presentations, case studies, and collaborative problem-solving exercises designed to develop practical skills. A recurring feature, Voices from the Field, brings in professionals from across the fisheries sector to share their career pathways and real-world perspectives, providing students with valuable insights into opportunities in research, management, and policy.

Course Objectives and Learning Outcomes:

By the end of the course, students are able to:

  1. Explain fundamental concepts of fish life history and population dynamics.
  2. Describe the design and purpose of fisheries monitoring programs.
  3. Identify and compare major types of fishing gear and their applications.
  4. Demonstrate a foundational understanding of stock assessment methods and their role informing fisheries decision-making.
  5. Understand basic principles of fisheries management and how they support sustainability.

This course provides an introduction to the fundamental processes that govern fish population dynamics and the application of this understanding to fisheries management. Students examine core population processes including survival, growth, recruitment, and movement and learn how these processes are represented mathematically in fisheries models. The course provides detailed learning on stock assessment methods, ranging from basic approaches to more advanced models. This course provides an in-depth exploration of the principles and practices of fisheries management, covering topics such as biological reference points, harvest control rules, single-species and ecosystem-based management, and advanced approaches including management strategy evaluation.

Through lectures, discussions, coding exercises, and homework assignments, students gain hands-on experience fitting models to data, estimating parameters, interpreting model results, and assessing model performance. They also gain experience interpreting model outputs, presenting results, and critically evaluating stock assessments in the context of uncertainty and decision-making.

Course Objectives and Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, students are able to:

  1. Describe key aspects of fish population dynamics (recruitment, growth, mortality, movement).
  2. Apply fundamental fisheries modeling approaches to estimate population parameters and relationships.
  3. Apply stock assessment methods, and evaluate their assumptions, uncertainties, and limitations.
  4. Interpret and communicate modeling results through written reports and oral presentations, including critical evaluation of assessment outcomes.
  5. Understand fishery management principles and role of science in decision making.

This course introduces Management Strategy Evaluation (MSE), a widely used framework for testing the robustness of fisheries management approaches under uncertainty. The course blends conceptual overviews with case studies and hands-on code walk-throughs, enabling students to conceptualize and understand the structural code of MSE applications. Students explore the full MSE process, including the development of operating models to represent biological and fishery systems, observation models to simulate data collection and uncertainty, and estimation models for deriving reference points. The course also covers the design and evaluation of harvest control rules, the role of implementation models in accounting for management processes, and the selection and interpretation of performance metrics.

Course Objectives and Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, students are able to:

  1. Explain the principles and purpose of MSE and its role in modern fisheries management.
  2. Describe the key components of the MSE loop, including operating models, observation models, estimation models, harvest control rules, and implementation models.
  3. Select and interpret performance metrics to evaluate trade-offs among competing management objectives.
  4. Demonstrate their ability to design an MSE study to address a specific question.

This course examines decision-making processes within the U.S. Regional Fishery Management Council system. Students explore how science, policy, stakeholder interests, and legal mandates intersect to shape fisheries governance of U.S. fisheries with a focus on New England. Through lectures, analysis of council meeting materials, case studies, and simulation exercises, students gain insight into how regional fisheries management council’s balance conservation, socio-economic objectives, and legal requirements in the face of uncertainty.

Course Objectives and Learning Outcomes:

By the end of the course, students are able to:

  1. Describe the legal, institutional, and scientific foundations of the U.S. Regional Fishery Management Council system.
  2. Explain the roles and interactions of Councils, Scientific and Statistical Committees, NOAA Fisheries, and stakeholders in fisheries decision-making.
  3. Understand how stock status, climate and ecosystem information, and socioeconomic considerations inform Council decisions.
  4. Critically evaluate Council decision-making processes and their implications for fisheries management.