Roger Williams University to Offer Practical Shellfish Farming Course

BRISTOL, RI (12/30/2009)(readMedia)-- The Roger Williams University Center for Economic and Environmental Development today announced it is presently enrolling students to its non-credit course in Practical Shellfish Farming for the winter 2010 semester. This course will provide interested individuals the technical information needed to confidently undertake a small shellfish farming enterprise in Rhode Island and nearby areas of southern New England. All aspects of shellfish farming, from the broodstock to the market, will be covered over the twelve-week course. Students will learn the basic principles of hatchery, nursery and grow-out operations; as well as risk management, siting and permitting, and business management.

Associate Professor and Aquaculture Extension Specialist, Dale Leavitt, will instruct the course which will be held on the Bristol, RI campus of Roger Williams University. The course will consist of a minimum of twelve classes, which will be held on Wednesday evenings from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The class will commence on January 13, 2010 and run through April 21, 2010, weather permitting. The fee for the entire twelve-week course, including all handout materials, is $120 per student. Students may attend classes on a drop-in basis at a rate of $10 per evening session. Pre-registration is preferred by contacting Cheryl Francis at (401) 254-3110 or cfrancis@rwu.edu, or Dale Leavitt at dleavitt@rwu.edu.

Session topics and dates are as follows:

Date - Discussion Topics

13 Jan - Introductions and shellfish aquaculture overview

20 Jan - Shellfish Biology

27 Jan - Shellfish Growout Systems I – Oysters

3 Feb - Shellfish Growout Systems II – Clams and Scallops

17 Feb - Shellfish Nursery Systems I

24 Feb - Shellfish Nursery Systems II

10 Mar - Site Selection, Permitting and Regulations

24 Mar - Risks to Growing Shellfish I - Predators

31 Mar - Risks to Growing Shellfish II - Diseases

7 Apr - Shellfish Hatchery Techniques I

14 Apr- Shellfish Hatchery Techniques II

21 Apr - Shellfish Business Management

About RWU: Roger Williams University is a leading independent, coeducational liberal arts university at which students live and learn to be global citizens. With 40 academic programs and an array of co-curricular activities on its Bristol, R.I., campus, RWU is committed to its mantra of learning to bridge the world. Under the leadership of President Roy J. Nirschel, Ph.D., the University has achieved unprecedented academic and financial successes. In 2009, U.S. News & World Report named RWU the seventh-ranked baccalaureate college in the north.

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