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Masters · 1500 h · 11 modules
Master's in Open-Ocean Offshore Aquaculture
The Master's in Open-Ocean Offshore Aquaculture Prepares you for the new frontier of seafood production: open-ocean aquaculture, far from the coast and in demanding wave conditions. You will study offshore pens and structures, moo
Duration1500 h
FormatOnline
Starts9 November
Places20 / 20
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Programme overview
What is the Master’s in Open-Ocean Offshore Aquaculture?
The Master's in Open-Ocean Offshore Aquaculture
Prepares you for the new frontier of seafood production: open-ocean aquaculture, far from the coast and in demanding wave conditions. You will study offshore pens and structures, moorings, service vessels, automated feeding, remote monitoring with sensors and artificial intelligence, fish welfare, health, sustainability and project economics, including co-location with offshore wind.
Key advantages
- Applied marine engineering: Designing structures, moorings and open-sea operations.
- Biology and fish welfare: Species, health and welfare in offshore conditions.
- Digitalisation: Sensors, underwater cameras, AI and remote feeding.
- Sustainability: Environmental impact, alternative feeds and multi-trophic aquaculture.
- Applied project: Design of a complete offshore fish farm.
Programme type
Master's Degree
Study mode
Online
Duration
1,500 hours
Modules
11
Programme highlights
- Design offshore structures: Learn about submersible, semi-submersible and rigid pens.
- Master operations: Plan logistics, service vessels and harvesting at sea.
- Digitalise the farm: Use sensors, AI and remote control.
- Produce responsibly: Apply fish welfare and sustainability criteria.
- Join a growing sector: Prepare for an industry that is key to food security.
- Train to produce seafood sustainably and with technology in the open ocean.
Curriculum
Programme Structure
The programme is structured in 11 modules, listed below in order of study.
01
Open-Ocean Aquaculture: Context and Opportunities
- Global state of fisheries and aquaculture
- Limits of coastal aquaculture
- The offshore and open-ocean aquaculture concept
- Pioneer countries and companies
- Farmed and candidate species
- Protein demand and food security
- Blue economy policies
- Technical, environmental and social challenges
- Co-location with offshore wind
- Industry trends
02
Oceanography and Site Selection
- Waves, currents and wind in the open ocean
- Temperature, oxygen and water quality
- Bathymetry and seabed type
- Ecosystem carrying capacity
- Distance to port and logistics
- Marine spatial planning and licences
- Compatibility with fishing, shipping and protected areas
- Extreme event risks
- Modelling tools
- Site feasibility studies
03
Farming Structures and Moorings
- Flexible gravity pens for open water
- Submersible and semi-submersible pens
- Rigid steel structures
- Nets, materials and antifouling
- Grid mooring systems
- Wave and current load calculations
- Structural fatigue and maintenance
- Technical design standards
- Inspection with ROVs and divers
- Innovation in offshore structures
04
Marine Operations and Service Vessels
- Service and feed vessels
- Automated feed barges
- Wellboats and live fish transport
- Harvesting operations
- Net changing and cleaning
- Weather windows
- Crew safety
- Logistics planning from port
- Managing waste and mortalities
- Operations in storm conditions
05
Biology, Nutrition and Production
- Biology of species for open-ocean farming
- Hatchery and juvenile production
- Nutrition and feed formulation
- Alternative feeds: insects, algae and microorganisms
- Feeding strategies and conversion
- Growth and production control
- Stocking densities
- Final product quality
- Planning production cycles
- Production indicators
06
Fish Health and Welfare
- Main diseases in marine aquaculture
- Parasites and their control
- Vaccination and biosecurity
- Reducing antibiotic use
- Fish welfare indicators
- Handling, transport and slaughter
- Animal welfare regulations
- Health plans
- Diagnosis and surveillance
- Welfare in offshore conditions
07
Digitalisation, Sensors and Artificial Intelligence
- Water quality sensors
- Underwater cameras and biomass estimation
- Computer vision for behaviour and feeding
- Remotely controlled feeding
- Data platforms and digital twins
- Open-sea communications
- Cleaning and inspection robots
- Predictive maintenance
- Early warning of extreme events
- Digital product traceability
08
Sustainability and Environmental Impact
- Interaction with the marine environment
- Nutrients, waste and dispersal
- Escapes and their prevention
- Interaction with wild species
- Integrated multi-trophic aquaculture
- Offshore seaweed and shellfish farming
- Carbon footprint of aquaculture
- Environmental impact assessment
- ASC and other certification
- Environmental monitoring
09
Co-location with Offshore Wind and Multi-Use
- The multi-use marine space concept
- Synergies between offshore wind and aquaculture
- Designing shared structures
- Risks and liabilities
- Pilot projects in Europe
- Multi-use governance
- Renewable energy for offshore farms
- Shared logistics
- Joint business models
- Future outlook
10
Economics, Markets and Business Management
- Investment costs of an offshore farm
- Operating cost structure
- Markets and prices for marine species
- Marketing and the value chain
- Finance and insurance
- Production and market risk
- People management and workplace safety
- Relations with coastal communities
- Strategic planning
- Business case analysis
11
Master's Final Project: Design of an Offshore Fish Farm
- Choice of species and site
- Oceanographic study
- Structure and mooring design
- Operations and vessel plan
- Production and nutrition plan
- Health and welfare plan
- Digital monitoring system
- Environmental assessment
- Economic study
- Writing the dissertation and defending it before a panel
Workload
Study Time and Workload
1500 hours of study, online and at your own pace. Move the slider to the hours a week you can really put in.
Hours a week8
Weeks to finish—
You finish around—
Who it is for
Biologists, vets and aquaculture professionals: who want to specialise in open-ocean farming Naval, ocean and civil engineers: interested in floating structures and moorings Fishing and aquaculture company managers: studying new production projects Public administration and environmental agency staff: involved in marine spatial planning Entrepreneurs and investors: interested in the blue e
Faculty
Academic direction and faculty
The teaching team at Navalis: working professionals who deliver and oversee the institute's programmes.
Eng. Diego Cifuentes
Cap. Javier Abaroa (MCA)
Dr. Pau Ferrer
Dr. Nuria Llobregat
Eng. Javier Bañuls
Eng. Sofía Marquina
Eng. Tomás Riera
Verified reviews
Student Reviews
Reviews collected and verified by Opynio, not written by us.
Outcomes
Learning Outcomes
- 01Assess offshore sites
- 02Select structures and moorings
- 03Plan marine operations
- 04Manage production
- 05Digitalise the farm
- 06Analyse sustainability and viability
Careers
Career Opportunities
01Offshore aquaculture production manager: Running open-ocean farms.
02Aquaculture structures engineer: Designing pens and moorings.
03Marine operations manager: Coordinating vessels and logistics.
04Fish health and welfare manager: Health programmes on marine farms.
05Digital aquaculture specialist: Monitoring and data analytics.
06Blue economy consultant: Projects for companies and public bodies.
Questions
Entry Requirements
Offshore farming takes place in the open sea, far from the coast, with more waves and currents, which calls for specific structures, moorings and operations.
It combines both: marine engineering, operations, biology, fish health and business management.
Yes. A full module is devoted to fish health and welfare in offshore conditions.
Yes. A module analyses multi-use marine space and existing pilot projects.
You design a complete offshore fish farm, from site selection to project economics.
100% online, with a virtual campus available 24/7, live sessions that are recorded, and tutorials with the teaching staff.
The programme involves 1500 hours of study. You can work at your own pace within the timetable we give you when you enrol.
Each programme has its own start date, shown on this page and confirmed by our admissions team when you enquire.
On completing the programme you receive the Master's in Open-Ocean Offshore Aquaculture qualification awarded by Navalis Magna Institute.
Online admissions
Admissions Process
No waiting for a phone call. If your documents are complete, you can pay in the same session.
Entry requirements
Academic/professional profile: A degree in biology, marine science, veterinary science, agricultural, naval, ocean or civil engineering; or proven experience in aquaculture, fisheries or the maritime sector. Language: A good working level of English to follow classes and materials. Technical requirements: A computer with a stable internet connection, an up-to-date browser and a webcam for live sessions and project presentations. Admissions process: Online application, profile review and a short interview with the academic team. We confirm your start date when you enquire.
Questions?
Frequently Asked Questions
Leave your details and admissions will write back. If you already know this is the one, go straight to the application and pay in the same session.