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Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
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June 5, 2024

Suggested post: The @MyFWC brings Aquaculture in the Classroom with partners Duke Energy and
Coastal Conservation Association: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/FLFFWCC/bulletins/
3a0d7cc #Florida #aquaculture #fishraising 

FWC’s Aquaculture in the Classroom has another successful year thanks to collaboration
with Duke Energy Florida and Coastal Conservation Association 

For over two decades, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) Marine Stock
Enhancement Research team has been working with school administrators, teachers and students to
bring Aquaculture and Stock Enhancement Research into the classroom. The Aquaculture in the Class-
room program is designed for students ranging from fifth grade through college. The program teaches
students the basic principles of aquaculture, marine research and how stock enhancement plays a role
in supporting

Over the past two years, the FWC has teamed up with Duke Energy’s Crystal River Mariculture Center
and the Coastal Conservation Association Florida, which generously provided hatchery-reared red drum
(Sciaenops ocellatus) fingerlings to several participating schools along with the Energy and Marine Cent-
er in Pasco County. 

Through this innovative collaboration, hatchery-reared red drum fingerlings, starter feed and technical
advice on how to raise fingerlings in the classroom are provided to schools participating in the Aqua-
culture in the Classroom program. Information on system development and grant opportunities are also
provided. FWC biologists work with teachers to develop curriculum that meets Florida Sunshine State
Standards and provides students the opportunity to design aquaculture (fish-raising) systems, perform
daily animal husbandry (care) routines and conduct research projects, such as salinity tolerance tests,
feed studies and water quality/chemistry investigations. 

Since this program began in 2001, more than 30 Florida schools have successfully reared red drum in
the classroom. This past year, nine schools participated statewide and 625 red drum fingerlings were
distributed. 

To learn more about the program, or to refer a teacher or school, contact [email protected]

The Duke Energy Mariculture Center in Crystal River is a multispecies hatchery that has cultivated and
released nearly 5 million fish and crustaceans since 1991. The center is designed to help protect and re-
sponsibly manage natural resources, and contribute to the vitality of local communities. Each year, the
center raises up to 100,000 redfish and spotted seatrout, and releases them into the Gulf of Mexico to
support year-round fishing. 

Coastal Conservation AssociationFlorida is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the conservation of
Florida’s marine resources. The purpose of CCA is to advise and educate the public on conservation
of marine resources. Its objective is to conserve, promote and enhance the present and future avail-
ability of those coastal resources for the benefit and enjoyment of the general public.

staff putting fingerlings in buckets for transport
Partners from CCA and Duke Energy Florida work together to deliver hatchery-reared red drum
fingerlings to the Energy and Marine Center in Port Richey.

staff and students in front of truck
CCA in partnership with Duke Energy Florida delivered 150 red drum fingerlings to Stambaugh Middle
School in Auburndale. 

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Logo

QUESTIONS? Contact the FWC
Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission ·
620 S. Meridian Street ·
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1600 ·

(850) 488-4676 GovDelivery logo
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