AQUACULTURE SCIENCEAQUACULTURE SCIENCEPROGRAMPROGRAM

Bryant High SchoolBryant High School

South Mobile County AlabamaSouth Mobile County Alabama

PROGRAM OVERVIEWPROGRAM OVERVIEW

• Started when school opened in 1998Started when school opened in 1998• Began with one greenhouse and four Began with one greenhouse and four

recirculating systems (Exxon/Mobil)recirculating systems (Exxon/Mobil)• Now has three greenhouses, seven Now has three greenhouses, seven

recirculating systems (to 10,000 gallons), recirculating systems (to 10,000 gallons), aquaponics system, two indoor ponds and aquaponics system, two indoor ponds and one outdoor pond.one outdoor pond.

• New expansion to add full-scale New expansion to add full-scale commercial redclaw crawfish commercial redclaw crawfish nursery/hatchery operated by studentsnursery/hatchery operated by students

SUPPORTERSSUPPORTERS

• Exxon / MobilExxon / Mobil• Gulf Coast RC&D CouncilGulf Coast RC&D Council• Bedsole FoundationBedsole Foundation• Mississippi / Alabama Sea GrantMississippi / Alabama Sea Grant• Auburn University Fisheries Dept.Auburn University Fisheries Dept.• Alabama Dept. Conserv. Nat. Res.Alabama Dept. Conserv. Nat. Res.• Auburn Marine Extention Research Ctr.Auburn Marine Extention Research Ctr.• Mobile County Public School SystemMobile County Public School System• Numerous state and federal elected Numerous state and federal elected

officialsofficials

PROGRAMPROGRAM GOALS GOALS

• Keep students in schoolKeep students in school• Stimulate interest in science/technologyStimulate interest in science/technology• Hands-on learning by doing the”real Hands-on learning by doing the”real

thing”thing”• Demonstrate to students practical Demonstrate to students practical

applications of biology, math, physics, and applications of biology, math, physics, and chemistrychemistry

• Help to develop aquaculture opportunities Help to develop aquaculture opportunities by using commercially important speciesby using commercially important species

Bryant Aquascience Bryant Aquascience ComplexComplex

• Exxon/Mobil Center for Aquascience Exxon/Mobil Center for Aquascience StudiesStudies

• J. L. Bedsole Indoor Aquaculture J. L. Bedsole Indoor Aquaculture Production CenterProduction Center

• Gulf Coast Resource Conservation Gulf Coast Resource Conservation and Development Council and Development Council Aquaponics Studies CenterAquaponics Studies Center

RC&D Aquaponics

Exxon/Mobil Aquaculture Studies

Bedsole Indoor aquaculture

Exxon/Mobil Center for Exxon/Mobil Center for Aquaculture StudiesAquaculture Studies

Redclaw crawfish broodstock tanks

Redclaw hatching tanks

Exxon/Mobil Center

650-gallon tanksCurrently used for redfish

500-gallon recirculating

system

Redclaw crawfish hatching tanksand food preference studies

10,000-gallon epoxy-coated concrete tankfor spawning redfish

Reservoir

biofilter

Tilapia pond inside RC&D aquaponics building

Aquaponics trays

Brazilian red tilapia

Redclaw crawfish pond

Water hyacinths

Indoor pond provides for continuousyear-round crawfish production

Outdoor pond for cage culture

SPECIES CULTUREDSPECIES CULTURED(pilot scale studies)(pilot scale studies)

• Several species of tilapiaSeveral species of tilapia• Red snapper (First to culture in captivity Red snapper (First to culture in captivity

from egg to harvest; 5 published research from egg to harvest; 5 published research studies conducted by students)studies conducted by students)

• Cobia (ling)Cobia (ling)• Redfish (red drum)Redfish (red drum)• Rainbow trout (first cage culture)Rainbow trout (first cage culture)• Australian redclaw crawfish*Australian redclaw crawfish**all have good potential, but redclaw best*all have good potential, but redclaw best

Male redclaw crawfish(weighs approx. ½ pound)

CONTENT STANDARDSCONTENT STANDARDS

• Water chemistry and managementWater chemistry and management

• Aquatic biologyAquatic biology

• Aquaculture systems and techniquesAquaculture systems and techniques

• System design and maintenanceSystem design and maintenance

• Aquaculture issuesAquaculture issues

• Business and economics*Business and economics**capable of “book studies” only*capable of “book studies” only

Future PlansFuture Plans

• Construct and operate a full-scale Construct and operate a full-scale redclaw crawfish hatchery/nursery.redclaw crawfish hatchery/nursery.

• Business will be operated by Business will be operated by students; duties will include design, students; duties will include design, construction, operation, marketing, construction, operation, marketing, records and bookkeeping. records and bookkeeping.

• Profits will be used to pay students, Profits will be used to pay students, fund expansions, and scholarships.fund expansions, and scholarships.

Students enjoy their non-typical classroom setting

Students benefit from cooperative learning and problem solving

Most students prefer sitting in a boat instead of sitting in a classroom