Integrating fish culture into public schools in Massachusetts:

a dual-purpose collaboration.

Dale LeavittRoger Williams University

The cast of characters!

Dale LeavittRoger Williams University – Bristol, RI

Brad MorseDoubleM Cranberry Company – Rochester, MA

Keith WildaWMCSA – Amherst, MA

Joe ButtnerSalem State College – Salem, MA

Scott SoaresMassachusetts Department of Food & Agriculture

Teaching approaches associated with aquaculture

• “Teaching about aquaculture” Acquiring aquaculture skills is the goal For career minded students

• “Teaching with aquaculture” Motivating students is the goal Provides many opportunities for diverse

“learning experiences” for students

Collaboration with mutual benefits

Confusion reigns supreme!

Education Demonstration

Project AQUANew England Board of Higher Education

• August 1997 – NSF-ATE funded AQUA

• Goal: to prepare middle, high school, and two & four year college faculty to introduce aquaculture curricula into existing programs.

• Key component: participants form regional “Alliances” composed of linked institutions to create pathways for students and support network for teachers.

• Co-PI’s Fenna Hanes – NEBHE: Project Director Ann Whitney - Bristol Community College

• Aquaculture Specialists: Joseph Buttner - Salem State College Dale Leavitt – Roger Williams University Scott Soares - Mass. Dept. of Food & Agriculture

Principal Participants

• Aquaculture Curriculum Resource Guide

PRODUCTS

• Aquaculture Curriculum Resource Guide

PRODUCTS

• RASCALS

• Aquaculture Curriculum Resource Guide

PRODUCTS

• RASCALS

• Aquaculture Explorations

• Marine

• Freshwater

Cranberry Farming in SE Mass

Massachusetts Cranberry Production(from Cape Cod Cranberry Grower’s Association)

Of the approximately 1,000 cranberry growers in North America, 500 are in Massachusetts

14,400 acres of cranberries in production in Massachusetts48,000 acres of upland and wetland support lands1.875 million barrels (187.5 million lbs) in 1999$200 million in payroll to Massachusetts workers and

employs about 5,500 peopleThe multiplier effect into the economy is estimated to be

about $1 billion

The current state of the industry

Fish in the cranberry bog?

Objectives

• To investigate an alternative use of a cranberry bog system without permanently removing the potential for

cranberry production.

• To make money!

PartitionedAquaculture

System

Site 2

Current status

• Yellow Perch

Culture Species being considered

• Largemouth Bass

• Brown Bullhead (horned pout)

Bog/PAS Fish Growth

0

50

100

150

200

250

RW-1 LMB RW-2 YP RW-3 LMB RW-4 YP

Live

Wei

ght (

g)

25 July

28 August

30 September

31 October

Unknowns

One season or multiple seasons?

Dependent on growth rates

•What is our Production cycle?

If one season? Need to start

with fingerling large enough to reach market size in 7 months

• Need to start with a 6-7 inch fingerling (LMB)

• Fish available? YOY are only 2-3 inches

too small! Year 2 fingerlings are large enough but…

too expensive!

• Need to produce our own large fingerlings? Indoor RAS during winter

How do we start with a “BIG” fingerling?

• None available to hold 13,000 2-3 inch LMBs Grow from 2-3 inches in October to 6-7 inches in May

• AQUA Project network of schools We placed small RAS in many schools

• Made schools an offer they couldn’t refuse! Free fish and feed Aquaculture Extension Specialist to visit the school &

lecture on Bog/PAS Project Suggested lessons/explorations to use with the fish We remove the fish before school ends in the spring

Where do we find an indoor RAS to test concept?

Current status of the project

• Have fish in 8 schools

Current status of the project

• Have fish in 8 schools

• They are using them for their class work

Current status of the project

• Have fish in 8 schools

• They are using them for their class work

• Have provided back-up material

Current status of the project

• Have fish in 8 schools

• They are using them for their class work

• Have provided back-up material

• Scheduling field trips for students to return fish to Bog/PAS