History
The Federal Rural University of Pernambuco (UFRPE) has 42 stricto sensu graduate programs, totaling 59 master's and doctoral courses in various fields of science, including the Fisheries Resources and Aquaculture Program (PPG-RPAq), which established its master's level in 2001 and its doctoral level in 2010. The increasing number of programs at UFRPE is the result of an internal policy that encourages this process, which is fundamentally driven by the institution’s growth and consolidation at both regional and national levels, as well as by the rising demand for this type of education in recent years. In this regard, the UFRPE's Office of Research and Graduate Studies (PRPPG) has significantly contributed to the strengthening of PPG-RPAq, whether through resource allocation for infrastructure improvements, expanding the number of scholarships, or encouraging scientific production and the participation of faculty and students in scientific events.
The Northeast region of Brazil has distinctive characteristics that make it a prominent player in the national fisheries and aquaculture sector. Both fishing and aquaculture hold immense regional importance, playing a major role in positioning the Northeast at the top of the national ranking. As a result, artisanal fishing has great socioeconomic significance, generating employment and income for numerous families in coastal and inland communities. However, since most coastal fisheries resources are already overexploited or even collapsed, urgent recovery programs must be implemented. These programs should be based on participatory management that considers the environmental, social, and economic sustainability of the activity. Regarding oceanic fishing, most of the tuna fleet operating with pelagic longlines is based in the ports of Recife and Natal, making the Northeast the leading producer of high-value tuna species such as yellowfin tuna, bigeye tuna, albacore, and swordfish. As for marine aquaculture, the Northeast region is by far the largest shrimp producer, accounting for 99% of the national production. These activities hold significant social importance, providing employment and income to many families living near reservoirs and watercourses in the region. In the case of fish farming, tilapia production has become the foundation of an important regional supply chain.
In this context, training human resources in specialized areas of fisheries and aquaculture is essential to meet the demand for professionals capable of contributing to the sustainable development of this sector at both the regional and national levels, addressing current challenges. The Federal Rural University of Pernambuco (UFRPE), through its Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture (DEPAq), has been committed to training professionals in this field since 1970, when it created the undergraduate program in Fisheries Engineering, the first of its kind in Brazil. However, in recent decades, societal demands for sustainable exploitation of marine and freshwater living resources have grown exponentially, requiring increasingly skilled professionals to diagnose and resolve the various issues faced by the fisheries sector in Brazil and abroad.
To contribute to this process and building on 45 years of experience in Fisheries Engineering and lato sensu graduate programs (Aquaculture, Fishing Technology, Fish Processing Technology, Ecology and Management of Aquatic Ecosystems, among others), DEPAq decided to establish a stricto sensu graduate program. Thus, in September 2000, through Resolution No. 336/2000 of UFRPE’s Teaching, Research, and Extension Council, the Fisheries Resources and Aquaculture Graduate Program (PPG-RPAq) at the master's level was created, with academic activities beginning in March 2001. The program was recommended by CAPES and recognized for new courses, allowing UFRPE to expand its human resource training in this field. As the program continued to consolidate, the PPG-RPAq doctoral level was implemented in 2010, starting with a CAPES rating of 4, which was also assigned to the master's program. Since then, the program has trained 251 professionals at both levels (M=315; D=92). The faculty is primarily composed of DEPAq professors, supplemented by faculty from other UFRPE departments and other higher education institutions (HEIs). These professors work in three research lines: Sustainable Fisheries, Sustainable Aquaculture, and Aquatic Ecology.
Since 2005, during its second three-year evaluation period, the program's coordination has implemented a structured plan with the main goal of improving student training by addressing national and international challenges in knowledge production and elevating the program’s CAPES rating. The key strategies adopted since then include:
(i) Conducting annual evaluations of the faculty's performance and making necessary adjustments to strengthen the program;
(ii) Encouraging an increase in faculty productivity through participation in scientific events and the publication of Qualis A1 and A2 articles, particularly in collaboration with students;
(iii) Promoting postdoctoral training opportunities for faculty members;
(iv) Opening faculty recruitment processes for DEPAq to address gaps in specific research areas;
(v) Encouraging faculty participation in exchanges with well-established graduate programs in Brazil and research institutions abroad;
(vi) Hosting international researchers for short- and long-term stays;
(vii) Encouraging students to conduct part of their research abroad through programs such as Science Without Borders and sandwich scholarships; and
(viii) Promoting the participation of international students in the program, particularly from Latin America and Africa.
All these initiatives have significantly contributed to strengthening the program, paving the way for it to continue offering high-quality education and improving its ranking among graduate programs in the field of Animal Science and Fisheries Resources in Brazil.
CAPES Rating and Scholarships
The program currently holds a CAPES rating of 5 and receives scholarships from CAPES, CNPq, and FACEPE (Foundation for the Support of Science and Technology of the State of Pernambuco). Additionally, it includes international students who receive scholarships from their home countries or international organizations.
Program Objectives
The Fisheries Resources and Aquaculture Graduate Program (PPG-RPAq) aims to train professionals capable of assessing, diagnosing, planning, managing, and developing the national fisheries and aquaculture sector in both public and private spheres. The program ensures the scientific and technological knowledge necessary for the sustainable development of this sector in environmental, economic, and social aspects. The specific objectives are:
i. Expanding knowledge on various aspects of the biology of commercially important species for fisheries and aquaculture, providing scientific support for the sustainable use of these resources through conservation and management measures;
ii. Increasing knowledge about the biology of ecologically important species in fishing and aquaculture environments, offering scientific support for their conservation through an ecosystem-based approach;
iii. Contributing to the development of artisanal and industrial fisheries by generating scientific and technological knowledge that ensures the ecological, environmental, social, and economic sustainability of these activities;
iv. Contributing to the advancement of aquaculture by producing scientific and technological knowledge that guarantees the ecological, environmental, social, and economic sustainability of the sector; and
v. Maximizing the efficiency of production chains associated with fisheries and aquaculture by addressing economic, sanitary, and technological aspects.