Roger Williams University to Offer Practical Shellfish Farming Course

BRISTOL, RI (12/10/2010)(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 2011 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, Dr. 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 12, 2011 and run through April 13, 2011, 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:

12 Jan - Introductions and shellfish aquaculture overview

19 Jan - Shellfish Biology

26 Jan - Shellfish Growout Systems I – Oysters

2 Feb - Shellfish Growout Systems II – Clams and Scallops

9 Feb - Milford Aquaculture Seminar, Milford, CT

16 Feb - Shellfish Nursery Systems I

23 Feb - Shellfish Nursery Systems II

2 Mar - Site Selection, Permitting and Regulations

9 Mar - Risks to Growing Shellfish I - Predators

16 Mar - Risks to Growing Shellfish II - Diseases

23 Mar - Shellfish Business Management

30 Mar - National Shellfisheries Association Meeting, Baltimore, MD

6 Apr - Shellfish Hatchery Techniques I (optional)

13 Apr - Shellfish Hatchery Techniques II (optional)

About RWU: Roger Williams University is a leading independent, coeducational liberal arts university at which students live and learn to be global citizens. With 41 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. In the last decade, the University has achieved unprecedented academic and financial successes and continues to be recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of the top ten educational institutions in its class.

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