Aquaculture and Aquaponics
at CWCIT
About The Program
Description
Course topics include fisheries and marine ecology, anatomy and physiology, water quality, aquaponics, mariculture, and commercial and recreational management operations. Emphasis is placed on hands-on skill acquisition. Students will also explore educational and career opportunities in this rapidly growing field.
Careers to Consider:
Fish Hatchery Manager
Fisheries Technician
Aquaculturist
Aquatic Scientist
Marine Biologist
Outdoor Education
Aquaponics Technician or Business Owner
And many more!
Credentials, Certifications, Work-Based Learning and Leadership Opportunities
Coming soon!
Units of Study
Students will maintain a fully operational recirculating aquaculture and aquaponics system with tilapia. Some topics covered include fisheries management, aquaponics and hydroponics, invasive species management, species identification, marine ecology, gardening, freshwater ecology, bivalve aquaculture and more. Students will conduct their own research projects and present at a poster session, tour various local hatcheries, cook what they grow, and interact with local experts. These classes are an excellent opportunity for students interested in growing food, marine biology, outdoor recreation, and natural resources to learn in a hands-on environment.
Your Instructor: Robin Monini
207-497-5454
robin.monini@union103.org
Robin Monini grew up in Connecticut, attending an FFA program in high school concentrating on Aquaculture and Natural Resources. After high school, she earned her Associate's Degree and transferred to SUNY Cobleskill, earning her Associates in Fisheries and Wildlife Technology, and Bachelor's Degree in Aquaculture and Fisheries, and then her Master's in Teaching at Eastern Connecticut State University.
After obtaining her aquaculture degree, Robin worked at an outdoor summer camp in North Carolina teaching kids all about North Carolina's wildlife. She then moved to West Virginia to serve an AmeriCorps term with the US Forest Service as a fisheries and snorkel technician for a year. Robin moved to Boise, Idaho to serve another AmeriCorps term with the Boise Urban Garden School. She returned to Connecticut to earn her Master's Degree in Elementary Education and cross-endorsed in secondary biology and agriculture education.
She moved to Maine in November of 2020. Robin loves fishing, hiking with her friends and family, and snorkeling.
