1. AQUACULTURE SCIENCE PROGRAM
Bryant High School
South Mobile County Alabama

2. PROGRAM OVERVIEW Started when school opened in 1998
Began with one greenhouse and four recirculating systems (Exxon/Mobil)
Now has three greenhouses, seven recirculating systems (to 10,000 gallons), aquaponics system, two indoor ponds and one outdoor pond.
New expansion to add full-scale commercial redclaw crawfish nursery/hatchery operated by students

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

4. PROGRAM GOALS Keep students in school
Stimulate interest in science/technology
Hands-on learning by doing the”real thing”
Demonstrate to students practical applications of biology, math, physics, and chemistry
Help to develop aquaculture opportunities by using commercially important species

5. Bryant Aquascience Complex
Exxon/Mobil Center for Aquascience Studies
J. L. Bedsole Indoor Aquaculture Production Center
Gulf Coast Resource Conservation and Development Council Aquaponics Studies Center

6. Bedsole
Indoor aquaculture
Exxon/Mobil
Aquaculture Studies
RC&D Aquaponics

7. Exxon/Mobil Center for Aquaculture Studies
Redclaw hatching tanks
Redclaw crawfish broodstock tanks

8. Currently used for redfish
650-gallon tanks
Currently used for redfish

9. Redclaw crawfish hatching tanks and food preference studies
500-gallon recirculating system

10. 10,000-gallon epoxy-coated concrete tank
Reservoir
biofilter
10,000-gallon epoxy-coated concrete tank
for spawning redfish

11. Tilapia pond inside RC&D aquaponics building

12. Aquaponics trays

13. Brazilian red tilapia

15. Indoor pond provides for continuous year-round crawfish production
Redclaw crawfish pond
Indoor pond provides for continuous
year-round crawfish production
Water hyacinths

16. Outdoor pond for cage culture

17. SPECIES CULTURED (pilot scale studies)
Several species of tilapia
Red snapper (First to culture in captivity from egg to harvest; 5 published research studies conducted by students)
Cobia (ling)
Redfish (red drum)
Rainbow trout (first cage culture)
Australian redclaw crawfish*
*all have good potential, but redclaw best

18. (weighs approx. ½ pound)
Male redclaw crawfish
(weighs approx. ½ pound)

19. CONTENT STANDARDS Water chemistry and management Aquatic biology
Aquaculture systems and techniques
System design and maintenance
Aquaculture issues
Business and economics*
*capable of “book studies” only

20. Future Plans
Construct and operate a full-scale redclaw crawfish hatchery/nursery.
Business will be operated by students; duties will include design, construction, operation, marketing, records and bookkeeping.
Profits will be used to pay students, fund expansions, and scholarships.

21. Students enjoy their non-typical classroom setting

22. Students benefit from cooperative learning and problem solving

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