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Aquaculture Program West Harrison County Occupational Training Center |
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Aquaculture, the farming of plants and animals in water, is becoming a major force in world agriculture. Currently, appoximately 12 percent of the world's fish and seafood supply are farm raised. Asian countries have taken a huge lead in aquaculture, with more than 75 percent of the current world production. More than three-quarters of the shrimp eaten in the United States is imported and farm raised. As world wild fish stocks continue to decline, aquaculture will be called upon to supply an ever-increasing share. Current projections are that aquaculture will supply 45 percent of the world fish supply by the year 2040.Aquaculture is sometimes called fish farming; this is a misnomer. Shrimp, crawfish, alligators, oysters and a wide variety of aquatic plants are also raised. Aquaculture crops are produced to fill many needs. Bait fish, ornamental or aquarium fish, research animals, and animals raised for wild stocking, in addition to those produced for human food, are now grown on aquaculture farms worldwide. Many production systems --ranging from traditional ponds to huge, floating cages, high-production raceways, and high-tech computer-controlled systems-- are now in use.
In the U.S., interest in aquaculture is rapidly increasing. Most states now recognize the importance of aquaculture and are taking steps to encourage its development. Major U.S. aquaculture crops include catfish, trout, sport fish, bait fish and crawfish. Public and private research into at least 40 other crops is currently underway.
Mississippi leads the nation in aquaculture, producing almost 50 percent of the country's farm-raised fish. Catfish is king, with more than 100,000 acres of water currently in production. Catfish farming, along with support industries such as processors and feed mills, accounts for more than 8,000 Mississippi jobs. Catfish are now the state's second most important farm animal, trailing only poultry in terms of farm income.
The industry has traditionally produced its own work force by informal on-the-job training, but this is no longer enough. Our aquaculture program was established to train the skilled workers needed to fill jobs in this growing field. The program has two levels. During the day, students from Long Beach and Pass Christian high schools study aquaculture as part of their vocational and science education. In the afternoon and evening, post-secondary (adult) students prepare for careers in aquaculture.
The facilities at the West Harrison County Center include a new building housing only the aquaculture program. Classrooms, labs, indoor culture areas and a library are available for student use. Outdoors, 17 ponds are in use, with other planned. Students raise catfish, hybrid striped bass, freshwater and saltwater shrimp, bait minnows, tilapia, rainbow trout, and a variety of ornamental fish. Two greenhouses currently under construction will allow the center to add other crops, especially saltwater species.
Topics covered in both courses include pond management, hatchery, system design and construction, water quality, nutrition, and disease. Graduates of this program work as hatchery technicians in established aquaculture facilities, in public aquariums and zoos, and for state wildlife agencies. Some are interested in starting their own aquaculture businesses.
Learning to properly use farm equipment is also part of Gulf Coast's aquaculture program.
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