Aquaculture training course attracts those seeking ocean farming knowledge and skills

Clamming 101

Neil Nachbar 

Instructors Rob Hudson and Azure Cygler drew upon their experience
of working in the aquaculture industry when teaching the aquaculture
 training course. (Photos courtesy of Rhode Island Sea Grant)

The University of Rhode Island Coastal Resources Center’s new spring course tailored to those with basic ocean farming knowledge wanting to learn about the business practices of aquaculture drew interest from around the globe.

The inaugural 12-week course, “Beyond the Basics for Businesses and Practitioners,” was free for participants thanks to grant funding awarded to Rhode Island Sea Grant.

Located at URI’s Graduate School of Oceanography, Rhode Island Sea Grant supports research, outreach, environmental literacy, and workforce development programs that foster the resilience of local and regional communities and marine environments.

Course instructors Azure Cygler and Rob Hudson led participants through a range of topics including Aquaculture Business 201: Economics of Shellfish Farming, Staying Healthy in Aquaculture, Women and Minorities in Aquaculture, Keeping the Peace in Aquaculture, Effective Communication in Aquaculture, and Aquaculture Beyond Oysters – 21st Century Farming Principles and Practice.

Cygler is a coastal research associate, and Hudson is a marine research associate. Both are fisheries and aquaculture extension specialists for the Coastal Resources Center and Rhode Island Sea Grant, with extensive practical experience in aquaculture.

The course was conducted at URI’s Coastal Institute on the Narragansett Bay Campus and online. The online option attracted participants from 15 coastal states and 10 countries, including Australia and Scotland. In total, 65 people registered for the course, with each having a unique motivation for participating.

“The enthusiasm surrounding the launch of this course surpassed expectations both locally and globally,” said Hudson. “We’re excited to build upon this momentum—supporting our inaugural cohort in their future aquaculture endeavors and continuing to grow the program with next year’s incoming cohort.”

Participant Travis Beckman, who is interested in working on an oyster or kelp farm or perhaps owning his own farm, enrolled in the course to learn about different career paths and to network with farmers and experts from Rhode Island and southern New England. However, he also had more personal reasons for taking the course.

“Shellfish aquaculture and other regenerative aquaculture practices, such as kelp farming, are critical to conserving and restoring the ocean,” said Beckman, who hails from Pawtucket. “We need resilient coastal resources for protecting biodiversity, recreation, and robust food systems. The ocean is a sacred place for me, and this course is a key early step for me to get more involved in the stewardship of it.”

Kip Foley, a North Kingstown entrepreneur, was drawn to the course for potential business opportunities. “I learned that although oyster farming is a mature industry with relatively tight profit margins, there are lots of opportunities to add value through innovation. In fact, innovation is likely the key to being a successful business in the industry in the very near future,” he said.

Money didn’t factor into Victoria Lundin’s decision to take the course—in fact, she is using it as a way to give back. The retired senior pursues oyster gardening as a hobby.

“If I was 30 years younger, I would definitely start my own business,” said Lundin, who resides in East Hampton, N.Y. “However, I will share my new knowledge with groups of children and adults who tour my garden and shellfish hatchery. Instead of a payment to me, these groups make a monetary donation to various community organizations.”

Lundin also said that the open sharing of information enabled her to learn new gardening techniques. “Our environment is constantly changing. It’s important to listen to how others tackle a problem,” she said. “I met so many passionate gardeners from the East and West Coasts. Also, each guest speaker opened my eyes to new opportunities and experiences.”