Educational objectives
The objectives of the course are the transmission of an in-depth knowledge about the main activities aimed at protecting marine ecosystems. The course introduces the main features of marine ecosystems, analyzes the impacts on these ecosystems deriving from human activities, providing for each impact the description of the technical, managerial and regulatory tools used to protect the sea.

Expected learning outcomes

Knowledge and understanding
At the end of the course, the student will acquire knowledge concerning the main anthropic impacts on marine ecosystems and activities aimed at protecting the sea. The student will be able to understand the multiple effects that human activities imply, in terms of the imbalance of the stability of marine ecosystems, and will know the technical, managerial and regulatory tools aimed at protecting the sea and its resources.

Applied knowledge and understanding
The student will be able to orient himself on the technical options that can be applied for the protection of the marine ecosystems and will be able to identify the regulatory instruments, national and supranational, through which the issues concerning the protection of the sea are addressed.

Autonomy of judgment
During lectures and exercises, open discussions on the main topics addressed are encouraged, in particular with regard to possible solutions to environmental emergencies affecting the sea. The student will then acquire autonomy of judgment based on the knowledge learned and on the dialectical comparison with colleagues and the teacher.

Communication skills
The student will acquire an appropriate technical-scientific language during the lessons and exercises, through the knowledge of the definitions and the main concepts in marine ecology and protection of the marine environment. Communication skills will be verified during the exam.

Ability to learn
The student will have to demonstrate to be able to use the concepts learned to hypothesize the possible effects of human activities also in marine ecosystems different from those considered as an example, based on the characteristics of the ecosystem considered.