Master's in Offshore Open-Sea Aquaculture
Prepare for aquaculture in open water: offshore structures, mooring, service vessels, digital monitoring, animal welfare and project economics. A private online professional programme with a Navalis Institute certificate.
Prior knowledge check
These are the skills this programme gives you. Tick the ones you already master and we will tell you which part of the syllabus is for you.
You are starting from scratch in this subject. The programme is designed precisely for that.
What is the Master's in Offshore Open-Sea Aquaculture?
This programme prepares you for the new frontier of seafood production: aquaculture in the open sea, far from the coast and in demanding wave conditions. You will study offshore structures and cages, mooring, service vessels, automated feeding, remote monitoring with sensors and artificial intelligence, animal welfare, health, sustainability and the economics of these projects, including their combination with offshore wind.
What sets it apart is its balance between marine engineering, biology and business management, and its applied final project, in which you design a complete offshore aquaculture farm from site selection to project economics. It is studied 100% online, with a virtual campus, recorded live sessions and tutoring from the teaching staff.
Programme highlights
- Applied marine engineering: Design of structures, moorings and operations in the open sea.
- Biology and animal 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 aquaculture farm.
- Growing sector: Prepare for an industry that is key to food security.
Syllabus of the Master's in Offshore Open-Sea Aquaculture
11 modules. Select a module to see its content.
Open-Sea Aquaculture: Context and Opportunities
- 1.1. Global situation of fisheries and aquaculture
- 1.2. Limits of coastal aquaculture
- 1.3. The concept of offshore and open-sea aquaculture
- 1.4. Pioneering countries and companies
- 1.5. Farmed and candidate species
- 1.6. Protein demand and food security
- 1.7. Blue economy policies
- 1.8. Technical, environmental and social challenges
- 1.9. Combination with offshore wind
- 1.10. Sector trends
Oceanography and Site Selection
- 2.1. Waves, currents and wind in the open sea
- 2.2. Temperature, oxygen and water quality
- 2.3. Bathymetry and seabed type
- 2.4. Carrying capacity of the ecosystem
- 2.5. Distance to port and logistics
- 2.6. Marine spatial planning and concessions
- 2.7. Compatibility with fishing, navigation and protected areas
- 2.8. Extreme event risks
- 2.9. Modelling tools
- 2.10. Site feasibility studies
Culture Structures and Mooring
- 3.1. Flexible gravity cages for the open sea
- 3.2. Submersible and semi-submersible cages
- 3.3. Rigid steel structures
- 3.4. Nets, materials and antifouling
- 3.5. Grid mooring systems
- 3.6. Calculation of wave and current loads
- 3.7. Fatigue and maintenance of structures
- 3.8. Technical design standards
- 3.9. Inspection with ROVs and divers
- 3.10. Innovation in offshore structures
Marine Operations and Service Vessels
- 4.1. Service and feed vessels
- 4.2. Automated feeding barges
- 4.3. Well boats and fish transport
- 4.4. Harvesting operations
- 4.5. Net changing and cleaning
- 4.6. Weather windows
- 4.7. Crew safety
- 4.8. Logistics planning from port
- 4.9. Waste and mortality management
- 4.10. Operations in storm conditions
Biology, Nutrition and Production
- 5.1. Biology of open-sea species
- 5.2. Fry and juvenile production
- 5.3. Nutrition and feed formulation
- 5.4. Alternative feeds: insects, algae and microorganisms
- 5.5. Feeding strategies and conversion
- 5.6. Growth and production control
- 5.7. Stocking densities
- 5.8. Final product quality
- 5.9. Production cycle planning
- 5.10. Production indicators
Health and Animal Welfare
- 6.1. Main diseases in marine aquaculture
- 6.2. Parasites and their control
- 6.3. Vaccination and biosecurity
- 6.4. Reducing antibiotic use
- 6.5. Animal welfare indicators
- 6.6. Handling, transport and slaughter
- 6.7. Animal welfare regulations
- 6.8. Health plans
- 6.9. Diagnosis and surveillance
- 6.10. Welfare in offshore conditions
Digitalisation, Sensors and Artificial Intelligence
- 7.1. Water quality sensors
- 7.2. Underwater cameras and biomass
- 7.3. Computer vision for behaviour and feeding
- 7.4. Remote-controlled feeding
- 7.5. Data platforms and digital twins
- 7.6. Communications in the open sea
- 7.7. Cleaning and inspection robots
- 7.8. Predictive maintenance
- 7.9. Early warnings for extreme events
- 7.10. Digital product traceability
Sustainability and Environmental Impact
- 8.1. Interaction with the marine environment
- 8.2. Nutrients, waste and dispersion
- 8.3. Escapes and their prevention
- 8.4. Interaction with wild species
- 8.5. Integrated multi-trophic aquaculture
- 8.6. Seaweed and bivalve farming in the open sea
- 8.7. Carbon footprint of aquaculture
- 8.8. Environmental impact assessment
- 8.9. ASC and other certifications
- 8.10. Environmental monitoring
Combination with Offshore Wind and Multi-Use
- 9.1. The concept of multi-use of marine space
- 9.2. Synergies between offshore wind and aquaculture
- 9.3. Design of shared structures
- 9.4. Risks and responsibilities
- 9.5. Pilot projects in Europe
- 9.6. Governance of multi-use
- 9.7. Renewable energy for offshore farms
- 9.8. Shared logistics
- 9.9. Joint business models
- 9.10. Future prospects
Economics, Markets and Business Management
- 10.1. Investment costs of an offshore farm
- 10.2. Operating costs and their structure
- 10.3. Markets and prices of marine species
- 10.4. Marketing and value chain
- 10.5. Financing and insurance
- 10.6. Production and market risks
- 10.7. People management and occupational safety
- 10.8. Relations with coastal communities
- 10.9. Strategic planning
- 10.10. Business case analysis
Final Project: Design of an Offshore Aquaculture Farm
- 11.1. Species and site selection
- 11.2. Oceanographic study
- 11.3. Design of structures and mooring
- 11.4. Operations and vessels plan
- 11.5. Production and nutrition plan
- 11.6. Health and welfare plan
- 11.7. Digital monitoring system
- 11.8. Environmental assessment
- 11.9. Economic study
- 11.10. Writing the report and defending it before a panel
Duration and format of the Master's in Offshore Open-Sea Aquaculture
It is 1,500 hours. Tell us how many you can study each week and we will tell you when you will really finish.
This is the pace at which most students finish. It fits well with the instalment plan.
Academic leadership and faculty
The Navalis teaching team: working professionals who teach and supervise the programmes.
Dra. Marina AlcoverAcademic Director and Head of Quality Assurance
Ing. Diego CifuentesSenior Lecturer in Naval Welding and Non-Destructive Testing; Head of QA/QC for Welded Joints
Cap. Javier Abaroa (MCA)Senior Lecturer in Ship Handling, Electronic Navigation (ECDIS/Radar/ARPA) and GMDSS; STCW Compliance and Bridge Resource Management Coordinator
Dr. Pau FerrerSenior Lecturer in Naval Architecture and Simulation; Director of the Hydrodynamics and CFD Laboratory
Dra. Nuria LlobregatSenior Lecturer in Marine Meteorology, SAR and Operational Safety; Navigation Risk Management Coordinator
Ing. Javier BañulsSenior Lecturer in Electrical Engineering, Automation and ETO Engineering; Electronic Integration and Engine Alarms Coordinator
Ing. Sofía MarquinaSenior Lecturer in Materials, Composites and Corrosion Protection; Coordinator of the Advanced Paints and Coatings Line
Ing. Tomás RieraSenior Lecturer in Propulsion, Alternative Energy and Hybrid Systems; Energy Performance and Vibration CoordinatorObjectives of the Master's in Offshore Open-Sea Aquaculture
Career opportunities after the Master's in Offshore Open-Sea Aquaculture
Questions about the Master's in Offshore Open-Sea Aquaculture
Offshore aquaculture takes place in the open sea, far from the coast, with bigger waves and stronger currents, which calls for specific structures, moorings and operations.
It combines both: marine engineering, operations, biology, animal health and business management.
Yes. A full module is devoted to health and animal welfare in offshore conditions.
Yes. One module analyses the multi-use of marine space and existing pilot projects.
You design a complete offshore aquaculture farm, from the site to the economics of the project.
100% online, with a virtual campus available 24/7, recorded live sessions and tutoring with the teaching staff.
The programme has a workload of 1500 hours. You can progress at your own pace within the calendar given to you when you enrol.
Each programme has its own start date, shown on this page and confirmed by the admissions team when you request information.
More programmes in Biology and conservation
Admission process
No waiting for a call back. If your documents are in order, you can enrol in the same session.
- Profile: A degree or qualification in Biology, Marine Sciences, Veterinary Medicine, Agronomic, Naval, Ocean or Civil Engineering; or proven professional experience in aquaculture, fisheries or the maritime sector.
- Language: sufficient command of the language of instruction to follow classes and materials; basic technical English is recommended, as much of the sector's regulation and documentation is published in English.
- Technical resources: A computer with a stable internet connection, an up-to-date browser and a camera for live sessions and project defences.
- Admission: online application, review of your profile and a short interview with the academic team.
- 01ApplicationYour details, background and documents.
- 02Instant reviewWe check that everything is complete and in order.
- 03EnrolmentChoose full payment or instalments and reserve your place.
Admission is provisional until the committee validates the documents provided. If you do not meet the requirements, the full amount is refunded.
Ask us before you enrol
Leave your details and admissions will write to you to answer any questions. If you are already sure, you can apply and pay in the same session.