-Keil.JPEG/jcr:content/IMG_4807%20(c)%20Keil.JPEG "The participants are standing by the institute pond in rubber boots. There is a boat in the pond. The participants are recording hydrological data directly at the pond.")
Module 6 focuses on the interaction between water availability, aquatic ecology, and fish health. The starting point is operational reality: water is the limiting factor in any aquaculture system and directly determines production, animal health, and the applicable legal framework.
A central part of the course is the practical and theoretical assessment of hydrological parameters. Discharge data and key hydrological indicators are not only introduced using the Hydrographic Yearbook but are also measured and calculated in the field. The objective is to enable participants to assess their “own water” – from basic flow measurements to classification within a broader hydrological context.
Building on this, the course addresses the relevant legal framework. Topics such as residual flow, minimum discharge (as defined in the Ecological Quality Ordinance), and wastewater requirements under the Aquaculture Effluent Regulation are covered with a clear focus on implementation in practice. This highlights the boundaries imposed by the legal framework governing the use of public water resources and how these must be considered in farm management.
Fish health forms the second major component. Topics include fish parasites, bacterial and viral diseases, and typical clinical signs, as well as their underlying causes within the system water–fish–management. Particular emphasis is placed on practical assessment: recognising changes in fish behaviour or appearance and taking appropriate action.
The module is complemented by external experts from the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna (Eva Lewisch) and the Environment Agency Austria (Robert Konecny), covering veterinary legislation, the animal health service (Tamara Frank), as well as pharmaceutical use and hygiene in aquaculture.
The course took place from 16 to 20 March 2026 at BAW-IGF in Scharfling and concluded with a written exam. With a total of 30 participants, capacity in both lecture rooms was fully utilised – especially during practical microscopy sessions, where densities briefly approached conditions typically associated with disease transmission.