With more than 1,000 certified commercial aquaculture farms and ~$100 million annual farm-gate value, Florida produces the greatest variety of aquaculture products in the nation and continues to grow and diversify. As the industry expands, so does the need for workforce development and student exposure to this important industry. Aquaculture demands knowledge and skills that are not typical of more traditional forms of agriculture, and teachers interested in covering aquaculture curriculum lack the information and training to confidently teach the subject and maintain systems for hands-on activities. A state- wide survey of all agriculture and science teachers in Florida found that less than ten percent of Florida students are exposed to aquaculture curricula, although ninety-three percent of teachers reported that they are interested in covering aquaculture . To meet this demand and increase aquaculture education in Florida, a diverse group of academic and regulatory agencies and the Florida Aquaculture Association (FAA) have collaborated for years to enhance aquaculture education in Florida.
Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute and the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Science, Tropical Aquaculture Laboratory (UF/IFAS) developed a variety of curriculum and lesson plans, Teach Aquaculture, that is closely tied to National Science Standards and has been utilized by hundreds of teachers since development. UF/IFAS hosts an annual Future Farmers of America aquaculture competition where student teams showcase both academic and technical aquaculture knowledge and partnered last year with a local school in Cedar Key to provide a one-year aquaculture education program, Shark Aquaculture Life Training . UF/IFAS and the FAA has also developed an Aquaculture Industry Certification program which has now been completed by more than 100 students. This program provides real-world skill training and results in a technical certification that improves graduate employment opportunities in the aquaculture industry.
FDACS has completed numerous aquaculture education projects in the past, and future projects are in development . FDACS has published two books that provide an overview of Florida aquaculture for elementary and middle school students and hosts educator resources and networking websites. FDACS staff attend science and agriculture education conferences annually to promote resources. In 2019, FDACS will host an aquaponic system workshop, which provides a desktop aquaponic system to participating teachers and a variety of lesson plans and activities. FDACS and UF/IFAS have a large three-day workshop planned for summer of 2020 which will provide participa nts with a recirculating aquaculture system and two full days of hands-on training and curriculum review. FDACS is now developing a full aquaculture education program that can be incorporated into high-school agriculture courses. A regional pilot version of this program is expected to launch in the fall of 2020, and provide participating schools with a greenhouse, recirculating aquaculture system, and fully developed lesson plans, curriculum, industry volunteers and a Florida Aquaculture guide book and video series.