54 DECEMBER • WORLD AQUACULTURE • WWW.WAS.ORG aquatic nutrition science, alongside investments in feed processing and storage technologies suited to regional contexts. Alternative and Affordable Energy Solutions Reliable, affordable energy is essential for operating pumps, aerators, and other equipment. Supporting engineering divisions in developing climate-smart technologies—including solar and other renewable energy sources— can make aquaculture more sustainable and cost-effective. The Business of Farming By strengthening planning, technical support, and education, the Caribbean can unlock the full potential of aquaculture as a driver of economic growth, food security, and innovation across the region. Aquaculture ventures can attract funding once feasibility is clearly demonstrated. Before launching any new operation, a comprehensive business plan should be developed. These plans should include: • Detailed cost estimates, including technical support • Environmentally sustainable and climate-smart production systems • Regulatory compliance and site assessment • Risk management strategies What is the Caribbean Aquaculture Education and Innovation Hub (CAEIH)? Launched in March 2024, the Caribbean Aquaculture Education & Innovation Hub (CAEIH) is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and the first of its kind founded by Caribbean women aquaculture scientists. CAEIH is a pioneering initiative designed to integrate science, technology, business, entrepreneurship, and policy to address critical challenges in Caribbean aquaculture. Guided by a distinguished Board of Directors and an International Science Advisory Board composed of Caribbean and global aquaculture professionals, the Hub is focused on building regional capacity and advancing sustainable aquaculture practices. At its core, CAEIH prioritizes education, innovation and workforce development. Through its Caribbean Aquaculture Network, the Hub offers webinars, training programs, and teacher support, targeting fish farmers, educators, and young professionals across the region. A key goal is to introduce aquaculture as a formal subject within tertiary institutions in the Caribbean, offering a much-needed alternative path for students studying life sciences, marine biology, and environmental science to enter the aquaculture sector — an area currently underrepresented in academic programming despite its economic and ecological importance. Why Aquaculture Education Matters Aquaculture is a strategic tool for achieving food security, climate resilience, and economic development in the Caribbean. Despite its importance, aquaculture remains overlooked within university-level science education in the region. CAEIH aims to change that by establishing formal academic programs and partnerships with Caribbean universities and research institutions. The Caribbean has a well-established educational foundation: • Barbados has a literacy rate of 99.6%, and more than 40% of secondary school graduates pursue tertiary education. • Jamaica has a 91% literacy rate, with over 80% of students passing key subjects in national secondary school exams and more than 30% enrolled in postsecondary education. Globally, only 33% of researchers are women, but in Latin America and the Caribbean, that number is 45.1% (UNESCO, 2021). However, within the Caribbean, there is a growing gender imbalance in science education, with more girls than boys entering and completing science-related degrees. This trend has created a cultural and social gap in participation, with many young men not seeing a future in scientific fields like aquaculture. Addressing Gender and Youth Gaps in Science To tackle this issue, CAEIH has established specialized subcommittees to foster inclusion and collaboration: • The Subcommittee on Youth in Aquaculture (ages 16–25) was created specifically to encourage more young boys and men to enter aquaculture science. The goal is to promote collaboration between young men and women, building a more balanced, innovative, and gender-inclusive sector. PHOTO 4. Sea urchin culture at ISERCARIBE in Puerto Rico. PHOTO 5. The author with an ornamental fish farmer in Jamaica.
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