Introduction
Aquaculture is a valued component of the Connecticut agriculture sector. The aquaculture sector contributes greater than $33 million to the state economy and supports nearly 500 farm jobs statewide. Aquaculture workforce development is strong with three specialized high schools, a network of Agriculture Science & Technology Education (ASTE) centers, and Extension training programs. However, few students stay in CT for post-secondary education or are employed in CT aquaculture jobs. The study objectives were to: 1) This baseline survey has determined the current providers and their location, the curriculum offered and annual recruitment numbers. It has importantly highlighted supply gaps and opportunities and is intended to inform the refinement of future aquaculture education and training, and career pathways.
2) highlight strengths and gaps between industry demand and education supply, and 3) identify current educational linkages and potential future pathways.
In-person interviews and online surveys using QualtricsXM were used to gather data. At the end of the data collection, a total of 76 individuals participated in the survey. The respondents were distributed among farmers (30), and educators (46). The results from the aquaculture sector show that despite some significant constraints, most of the business owners anticipate growth in output and the numbers of staff they expect to employ over the next 5-10 years. The industry employers’ demand for labor and skills can be characterized across four different thematic areas: farm operations, trades related, scientific/regulatory, and marketing/value added. A notable gap is that specialized skills needs are not regularly communicated from the sector to educators. Further, few internships and no apprenticeships exist for future farm-based experiential learning.
A statewide review of the aquaculture education and training supply from tertiary, secondary and extension sectors has determined the current providers and their location, the curriculum offered and annual recruitment numbers. There are gaps between what is taught/trained in aquaculture programs and the skills/experience that employers seek. From the results five key areas for growth were gleaned: marketing and promotion, aquaculture curriculum development including trades skills, infrastructure support and professional development, partnership and pathway development, while promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion.
This study will inform the development of new and improved secondary and post-secondary aquaculture curriculum and increase hands-on learning experiences. This will ultimately better prepare the next generation of farmers and support sectors by establishing transparent, comprehensive & accessible pathways for aquaculture education and training in Connecticut.