Project: Workforce Training and Education for Environmentally … Culture... · 2018-01-16 ·...
Transcript of Project: Workforce Training and Education for Environmentally … Culture... · 2018-01-16 ·...
Project: Workforce Training and Education for Environmentally and Economically Sustainable Great Lakes
Aquaculture
Funded By: University of Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute
Collaborators: Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, UW-Milwaukee School of Freshwater
Sciences, and UW-Extension.
Report Compiled By: Emma Wiermaa UWSP NADF Outreach Specialist
Project Background:
Great Lakes region aquaculture represents an array of production systems with flow-through, pond, and recirculating
aquaculture systems. Many multi-production farms exist that utilize a combination of these systems and others use
innovative hybrid systems in an attempt to increase production and decrease production time. While nationally the
aquaculture industry continues to expand, growth of the Great Lakes region’s aquaculture industry has slowed. Many new
and existing fish farmers cite a need for technical training and dissemination of current production knowledge, especially
in the area of sustainable recirculating systems and associated business operations.
Pond aeration demonstration at UWSP NADF by Kasco Marine.
Project Goal:
The goal for this project is to increase aquaculture workforce education and training opportunities and to provide skilled
workers for a continuously developing aquaculture industry.
Specific objectives are to: 1) develop a series of nine, three to five-day teaching modules based on topics the Great Lakes
aquaculture industry has identified as deficient in current education offerings, and 2) deliver these teaching modules
through a 3-tiered system of progressive advancement using online lectures and in-person workshops for direct
technology transfer.
The initial nine teaching modules include: Tier 1 - business plan, permitting and regulations, and marketing; Tier 2 –
nutrition, fish health, and pond culture; Tier 3 – recirculating aquaculture systems, principles of bio-filtration, and
aquaponics.
Pond Culture Workshop
To meet Tier 2 of the project goal, a pond culture workshop was offered through University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
Northern Aquaculture Demonstration Facility (UWSP NADF) and Lac du Flambeau Tribal Hatchery. The workshop
consisted of online learning modules and two hands on workshops. Attendees were asked to provide a single fee of $50.00
for workshop which included the online modules, the hands on portions, two lunches and snacks.
Online Modules:
After paying the workshop fee, attendees were provided an online link to
four video PowerPoint learning modules on Pond Construction, Pond
Fertilization, Water Quality, and Fish Management. Each video is about a
half hour in length and can be viewed online through most devices using
Office Mix. The videos were created by UWSP NADF and Lac du
Flambeau based on various resources and past rearing experience and
success. Hard copies of the videos were provided on a zip drive to
attendees at the hands on portion of the workshop.
Hands-On Workshop:
Two in person, hands on workshops
were provided to attendees. The first option
was given on May 24th-25th at UWSP
NADF. Specific activities and topics
included small fingerling walleye
production, seining techniques, pond
fertilization and vegetation management,
plankton sampling, clay-lined pond
management. The second option was given
on September 6th-7th at Lac du Flambeau
Tribal Hatchery with a tour of Woodruff
State Hatchery. Specific activities and topics
included extended fingerling walleye
production, forage minnows and feeding Fish health demonstration at UWSP NADF by Dr. Smith, Clayton Veterinary Care.
PowerPoint video learning modules on various pond
culture topics.
ratios, lined pond management, and harvest techniques.
Both events included a full tour of facilities and equipment, management techniques, pond aeration
demonstration by Kasco Marine, Inc., fish health demonstration and presentation by Clayton Veterinary Care and
provided a take home binder of various resources.
Attendees
Various groups were represented at the pond
culture workshop including private, state,
federal and tribal hatcheries and organizations
including St. Croix Chippewa Indians of
Wisconsin, Keweenaw Bay Indian Community,
Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa
Indians, Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians,
Sault Ste. Marie Tribe, University of
Minnesota-College of Veterinary Medicine,
University of Minnesota-Sea Grant. Total
individuals that took the workshop were 19. 12
people attended UWSP NADF and 10 people
attended Lac du Flambeau (3 returnees and 7
new attendees)
Pre-Workshop Surveys: Before taking the
workshop, registrants were asked to take a short online survey to describe their background, experience level and interest
in pond culture. A few summaries are as follows:
Half of the attendees were managers or employees of a farm or facility. The rest were owners, hobbyists or educators.
Half of the attendees had a basic understanding of pond culture with a few years of experience. Nearly the other half of
attendees had little or no experience raising fish in ponds.
Attendees were interested in all the topics listed, although the most requested topic to learn about was fish management
and harvest.
Walleye or game fish was predominately the species with the most interest. Other species mentioned were whitefish,
largemouth bass and koi.
Only one attendee reported to be well knowledgeable in several topics before the workshop. Nine attendees reported to
have little to no prior knowledge of at least one topic presented in the workshop.
See graphs for survey details in the appendix.
Post-Workshop Evaluations: After each hands on workshop, attendees were asked to fill out an evaluation
form to determine satisfaction, usefulness, relevancy, and clarity of the workshop. Attendees ranked various
workshop topics on a scale of 1 (poor) to 5 (best).
Percentage of attendees that scored a 4 (agreed) or 5 (strongly agreed) to various events:
90% agreed that the topics in the workshop were relevant to them.
90% agreed the training experience will be beneficial in their work.
95% agreed the online modules had a good amount of information.
85% agreed the hands on training had a good amount of activities.
100% agreed the content was clear and understandable.
95% agreed the length and pace was appropriate.
100% were overall satisfied with the workshop.
Demonstration and explanation of external kettle for fish harvesting at UWSP NADF.
Comments:
More information on smaller or private operations (capitol costs/marketing), permitting and
regulations, non-drainable or natural ponds, raising food fish species in ponds.
“Very informative”
“More workshops”
“I thought it was great for a pond culture workshop”
“Keep up the good work”
“I think you covered what was intended very well”
“Very enjoyable”
“It was all valuable”
“Overall, very well done”
Appendix: Pre-Workshop Survey Results
Number of applicants before the workshop that listed that they had no prior knowledge, little
knowledge, basic understanding, good understanding or well knowledgeable in various topics
presented in the workshop. 14 total applicants completed this pre-workshop survey.