HBOI | Press Relations | HARBOR BRANCH SUPPORTS GROWING LOCAL INDUSTRY THROUGH FIVE YEARS OF AQUACULTURE COURSES

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HARBOR BRANCH SUPPORTS GROWING LOCAL INDUSTRY THROUGH FIVE YEARS OF AQUACULTURE COURSES

This fall, HARBOR BRANCH is celebrating its fifth anniversary offering aquaculture training classes in partnership with Indian River Community College (IRCC). Thanks to continuing expansion of the Florida aquaculture industry, the program has now achieved a nearly 100% job placement rate for its students.

Classes for the aquaculture education program are taught in the evening and begin August 21 for the fall semester. Students can work toward a 1-year aquaculture technology certificate, a 2-year associate's degree, or simply sign up for introductory classes to learn more about the field or to explore the possibility of an aquaculture career. Most classes for the 1-year program are taught at HARBOR BRANCH, and for the 2-year degree about half are held at IRCC. In the past, the classes have attracted a full range of students from those just out of high school to some in their 70s.

"I enjoyed it," said Nick Schneider, who finished classes over the summer, of the program, "I think it gives a good all around education in aquaculture."

Because of the strong and growing Florida aquaculture industry, Megan Davis, director of HARBOR BRANCH's Aquaculture Division, said that nearly 100% of graduates that seek jobs in the field are able, with the program's help, to find them.

Past students are now working in aquaculture research at HARBOR BRANCH, at local companies such as Sebastian-based Maritech, which raises fish for food and the aquarium trade, and around the country. Many have also gone on to jobs with HARBOR BRANCH's commercial aquaculture subsidiaries: HARBOR BRANCH Clams, HARBOR BRANCH Shrimp, and Oceans Reefs and Aquariums, the world's largest producer of ornamental marine aquarium species.

"I'd say the program definitely helped me get my job," said Schneider, who now works at Sable Bay Shrimp in Vero Beach.

Davis said job prospects for students in this year's classes should be especially strong due to ongoing expansions at many local facilities. "Aquaculture is one of fastest growing agriculture sectors, especially in our state," said Davis, "and a lot of people don't know the opportunities are there."

HARBOR BRANCH-IRCC aquaculture classes are designed to be practical training opportunities, with students' time split about evenly between classrooms and hand-on work in greenhouses.

"The whole claim to fame of our program is that these students are learning here at HARBOR BRANCH right on site in production and research settings" said Ken Riley, director of HARBOR BRANCH Aquaculture Education.

Students actively raise fish and shrimp in greenhouses, plant seed clams in the Indian River Lagoon, and learn to monitor and optimize the environment and growth of the animals. As an added bonus, students typically get to eat at least some of their projects at the end of the semester.

Ken Riley can be reached at 772-465-2400 ext. 464. For additional information or to arrange for interviews with former aquaculture students, please contact Jan Petri, 772-465-2400 ext. 241, petri@hboi.edu. Photos and B-Roll of aquaculture work and facilities are available on request.

FALL 2003 COURSES:

Introduction to Aquaculture This course will teach you the basic principles and practices of farming fish, clams, and shrimp. Water quality, site selection, health management practices, nutrition, business decision-making, career choices and job requirements will be covered.

Principles of Molluscan Aquaculture This course teaches methods of culturing molluscan species with an emphasis on hard clams. It offers hands-on activities that include morphology and anatomy labs, field nursery trials, environmental monitoring, health management, record keeping and counting of clams. Other topics include site requirements for nursery and growout, genetics and diseases, predators, leasing, harvesting and marketing.

Aquatic Animal Health Management This course acquaints students in recognizing diseases in farmed species such as shrimp, fish and clams. Hands-on instruction in identification, diagnosis, and treatment of common aquatic diseases are included.

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