To ensure a successful certification process, we kindly request your attention to the following program requirements.

This program is specifically designed for individuals who are looking to enter or are presently employed in the aquaculture industry.

Students must complete the Introduction to Shellfish and Seaplant Aquaculture course should they not have industry experience.

Upon completion of the individual courses in the Certificate in Aquaculture (Shellfish and Seaplant), students are welcome to submit an application to receive the Certificate in Aquaculture (Shellfish and Seaplant), subject to the completion of all prerequisites and required documentation.

This course is designed to provide participants with an introduction to basic shellfish health and biosecurity concepts.

It includes an introduction to biosecurity and how it is important to the shellfish industry; a description of best practices to minimize the health risks to shellfish; explanation of the causes of disease including how pathogens are transmitted and how to mitigate the impacts; a description of disease monitoring and reporting; and an explanation to assist in the development of a biosecurity plan.

Shellfish and algae cultivation comprises more than 50% of the volume, value and employment in global aquaculture.

They are among the least impactful on the environment generally requiring little in the way of food.

A variety of methods are employed for growing the juvenile shellfish and small plantlets to harvest size, and these are explored in this course.

Topics to be covered include: growing requirements (siting), production methods for shellfish on land and at sea, production methods for algae on land and at sea, environmental constraints to growth, harvesting and processing, and food safety concerns.

The emphasis will be on cold-water and sub-tropical growout systems, but with examples from across the globe of similar systems adapted to Northern climates.

Shellfish and algae cultivation comprises more than 50% of the volume, value and employment in global aquaculture.

They are among the least impactful on the environment generally requiring little in the way of food.

Over 90% of the seedlings for shellfish and seaplant aquaculture are produced in hatcheries and nurseries.

The processes are similar in all forms of hatchery and nursery production, with some differences among species.

Topics to be covered include: requirements for a nursery system (siting), biological differences among shellfish and algae, selecting broodstock, reproduction and larval rearing, algal vegetative propagation, nursery cultivation methods of shellfish and algae, live feeding in nurseries, seed quality, and troubleshooting nursery systems.

The emphasis will be on cold-water and sub-tropical nursery systems, but with examples from across the globe of similar systems adapted to Northern climates.

This course will address OH&S from a federal and provincial perspective and include land-based farming, as well as marine (at sea) farming.

This course is designed to give workers/participants an understanding of the importance of basic farm safety practices and procedures.

It includes Workplace Health Management Information System (WHMIS), Occupational Health and Safety (OHS), workplace Harassment and Violence, incident reporting, hazards related to various farm systems and activities and safe work procedures.

This particular course can be delivered on-line; in that case the program will require more time to complete.

Contact us if you’re interested in on-line type of delivery for this course.