Fisheries and Aquaculture Techniques

Fisheries and Aquaculture Techniques - Certificate

Expand your knowledge of wildlife inhabiting local creeks, rivers, lakes, and Puget Sound with the Fisheries program at BTC. Learn the basics of water quality, fish and shellfish biology, and spawning techniques, and prepare for an exciting career in the fish hatchery industry. Instruction takes place in the classroom as well as at the Whatcom Creek Hatchery at the Maritime Heritage Park in Bellingham, which is operated by BTC’s Fisheries and Aquaculture program.

Your skills will be ready to use with employers such as the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, as well as private hatcheries, shellfish farms, and federal and private scientific companies.

To learn more about Bellingham Technical College programs you’re interested in, join us for a Virtual Program Info Session. Prior sign up is required. If you do not see an Info Session for the program you’re interested in, email outreach@btc.edu for more information.

Fisheries and Aquaculture Sciences Video

Employment Information

88% BTC graduate placement rate in all states*
69% BTC graduate placement rate

* Many Fisheries & Aquaculture students are employed outside of WA and OR. According to BTC faculty records, 88% of 2017-18 graduates seeking employment have been hired in their field of study.

Tuition Fees and Rates

Employment and Wage Data Sources

BTC graduate employment rates:
The graduate employment rate reflects placement rates of students who graduated from BTC in 2014-15, 2015-16, and 2016-17. The Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges Data Linking for Outcomes Assessment database pulls from Unemployment Insurance (UI) data across Washington and Oregon. UI data do not reflect BTC graduates who (a) are employed in states beyond those listed above or outside of the United States, (b) are self-employed, (c) are active duty members of the armed forces, (d) continued on to another educational institution, and/or (e) did not provide a social security number while enrolled at BTC.

Wages:
Washington State Employment Security Department 2018 Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates ( esd.wa.gov) reflect 2014-2017 employment

Starting annual wage = 25th percentile
Average annual wage = 50th percentile
Potential annual wage = 75th percentile

Entry Information

When Can I Start?

This program typically starts in Fall Quarter on a space available basis.

What are the Minimum Entry Requirements?

Admissions application and assessment testing in Reading, Math and Writing is required. Your score on the test and/or your previous transcripts will determine where you begin your course sequence. Contact Admissions at 360.752.8345 or at admissions@btc.edu for assistance with academic planning.

What are My Next Steps?

1. Apply to BTC and Financial Aid
2. Assess Your Starting Point
3. Advising & Registration
4. Prepare to Attend

Classes

Total Program Credits: 39

Quarter 1
AQUA 100 Intro to Fisheries and Aquaculture 2 CR
An introduction to lab and field safety, with an emphasis on workplace ergonomics, hazardous chemical usage and storage, proper handling and maintenance of gear and equipment, and OSHA regulations.
Prerequisites:
ACCUPLACER Classic Arithmetic (75) OR ACCUPLACER NextGen Arithmetic (254) or higher OR MATH 090 with a C or higher and ACCUPLACER Classic Sentence Skills (71) or higher OR ACCUPLACER NextGen Writing (245) or ENGL 092 with a C or higher, and ACCUPLACER Classic Reading (71) or higher OR ACCUPLACER NextGen Reading (247) or higher OR RDG 085 with a C or higher or Instructor permission.
Future Offerings:
Fall 2021-2022
09/20/2021-12/09/2021 Online Smith Openings: 24
Register for this class
Spring 2021-2022
04/05/2022-06/22/2022 Online Smith Openings: 24
AQUA 110 Water Quality 3 CR
An introduction to water quality principles with an emphasis on aquaculture production systems and environmental habitats. Students will learn standard methods of measuring water quality and managing water quality data. This course also covers common issues with water quality and practical approaches to solving them.
Prerequisites:
ACCUPLACER Classic Arithmetic (75) or higher OR ACCUPLACER NextGen Arithmetic (254) or higher OR MATH 090 with a C or higher, and ACCUPLACER Classic Sentence Skills (71) or higher OR ACCUPLACER NextGen Writing (245) or higher or ENGL 092 with a C or higher, and ACCUPLACER Classic Reading Comprehension (71) or higher OR ACCUPLACER NextGen Reading (247) or higher OR RDG 085 with a C or higher OR Instructor permission.
Future Offerings:
Fall 2021-2022
09/20/2021-12/09/2021 Online Smith Openings: 24
Register for this class
AQUA 120 Aquatic Biodiversity 3 CR
An introduction to the taxonomy, anatomy, and life cycles of plants and animals, with an emphasis on Pacific Northwest algae, shellfish, and finfish. This course will also cover evolutionary adaptations to aquatic environments.
Prerequisites:
ACCUPLACER Classic Arithmetic (75) OR ACCUPLACER NextGen Arithmetic (254) or higher OR MATH 090 with a C or higher, and ACCUPLACER Classic Sentence Skills (71) or higher OR ACCUPLACER NextGen Writing (245) or ENGL 092 with a C or higher, and ACCUPLACER Classic Reading (71) or higher OR ACCUPLACER NextGen Reading (247) or higher OR RDG 085 with a C or higher or Instructor permission.
Future Offerings:
Fall 2021-2022
09/20/2021-12/09/2021 Online Palm Openings: 24
Register for this class
AQUA 130 Reproduction 2 CR
An introduction to reproductive biology with a focus on crustaceans, shellfish, and fish. This course covers the anatomy and physiology of reproductive systems, life history strategies, and spawning techniques for aquaculture.
Prerequisites:
ACCUPLACER Classic Arithmetic (75) or higher OR ACCUPLACER NextGen Arithmetic (254) or higher OR MATH 090 with a C or higher, and ACCUPLACER Classic Sentence Skills (71) or higher OR ACCUPLACER NextGen Writing (245) or higher or ENGL 092 with a C or higher, And ACCUPLACER Classic Reading Comprehension (71) or higher OR ACCUPLACER NextGen Reading (247) or higher OR RDG 085 with a C or higher OR Instructor permission
Future Offerings:
Fall 2021-2022
09/20/2021-12/09/2021 Online Smith Openings: 24
Register for this class
AQUA 135 Hatchery Practicum I 4 CR
This lab course provides hands on training to reinforce the learning objectives in AQUA 110, AQUA 120, and AQUA 130. Students will practice spawning techniques, including wet and dry fertilizations, proper gamete handling, and calculations of reproductive metrics. Students will also apply water quality theory to lab and field projects and taxonomic tools for site surveys, hatchery operations, and aquaculture husbandry.
Prerequisites:
ACCUPLACER Classic Arithmetic (75) OR ACCUPLACER NextGen Arithmetic (254) or higher OR MATH 090 with a C or higher, and ACCUPLACER Classic Sentence Skills (71) or higher OR ACCUPLACER NextGen Writing (245) or ENGL 092 with a C or higher, and ACCUPLACER Classic Reading (71) or higher OR ACCUPLACER NextGen Reading (247) or higher OR RDG 085 with a C or higher or Instructor permission.
Future Offerings:
Fall 2021-2022
09/20/2021-12/09/2021 MW 8:00a-12:00p Smith Openings: 12
Register for this class
09/20/2021-12/09/2021 TTh 8:00a-12:00p Smith Openings: 12
Register for this class
Quarter 2
AQUA 140 Growth and Nutrition 3 CR
This course will provide an overview on the nutrition and feeding of aquatic species to promote healthy and sustainable growth. There will be a focus on crustaceans, shellfish, and finfish from an aquaculture perspective.
Prerequisites:
AQUA 100, AQUA 110, AQUA 120, AQUA 130, and AQUA 135 all with a C- or better or Instructor permission.
Future Offerings:
Winter 2021-2022
01/04/2022-03/24/2022 Online Palm Openings: 24
AQUA 150 Fundamentals of Aquaculture 3 CR
An introduction to culturing aquatic biota for commercial production and fisheries stock enhancement, with an emphasis on commonly used culturing systems, shellfish and finfish husbandry, and hatchery operations.
Prerequisites:
AQUA 100, AQUA 110, AQUA 120, AQUA 130, and AQUA 135 all with a C- or better or Instructor permission.
Future Offerings:
Winter 2021-2022
01/04/2022-03/24/2022 Online Palm Openings: 24
AQUA 165 Aquaculture Practicum 3 CR
This lab course provides hands on training to reinforce the learning objectives in AQUA 140, AQUA 150, and AQUA 160. Students will practice culturing techniques for algae, shellfish, and finfish species, including: stocking systems based on condition factors, recording growth and mortality metrics, monitoring embryonic and juvenile development, and creating feeding schedules. Students will be introduced to aging techniques for shellfish and finfish, practice using common fishing knots to repair and maintain fisheries gear, and manage databases for hatchery operations.
Prerequisites:
AQUA 100, AQUA 110, AQUA 130, and AQUA 135 all with a C- or higher or Instructor permission.
Future Offerings:
Winter 2021-2022
01/04/2022-03/24/2022 MW 8:30a-11:30a Palm Openings: 12
01/04/2022-03/24/2022 MW 12:30p-3:30p Palm Openings: 12
AQUA 190 Toxicology and Diseases 3 CR
An introduction to shellfish and finfish diseases and environmental toxicology. This course will cover the biology and ecology of pathogens, including bacteria, fungi, parasites, and viruses. Students will also learn the sources and exposure routes of pollutants and pathogens, lymphatic and behavioral responses, and commonly used diagnostics and treatments.
Prerequisites:
AQUA 140, AQUA 150, AQUA 160, and AQUA 165 all with a C- or better and AMATH 111 with a C or better or Instructor permission.
Future Offerings:
Winter 2021-2022
01/04/2022-03/24/2022 Online Palm Openings: 24
Quarter 3
AQUA 160 Fundamentals of Fisheries Biology 3 CR
An introduction to the principles of fisheries biology and the population dynamics of crustacean, shellfish, and fish species, with an emphasis on Pacific Northwest stocks. The course will include an overview of fisheries gear, technology, sampling techniques, and data collection for stock assessments.
Prerequisites:
ACCUPLACER Classic Arithmetic (75) or higher OR ACCUPLACER NextGen Arithmetic (254) or higher OR MATH 090 with a C or higher, and ACCUPLACER Classic Sentence Skills (71) or higher OR ACCUPLACER NextGen Writing (245) or higher or ENGL 092 with a C or higher, and ACCUPLACER Classic Reading Comprehension (71) or higher OR ACCUPLACER NextGen Reading (247) or higher OR RDG 085 with a C or higher OR Instructor permission.
Future Offerings:
Spring 2021-2022
04/05/2022-06/22/2022 Online Palm Openings: 24
AQUA 170 Freshwater Ecology 3 CR
An introduction to the ecology of rivers, lakes, and other freshwater systems with an emphasis on physical and chemical interactions with biotic communities. This course covers the effects of land use practices on freshwater habitats and techniques for mitigating habitat degradation. Students also will examine the habitat, ecology, and management of invertebrate and vertebrate species in freshwater environments.
Prerequisites:
ACCUPLACER Classic Arithmetic (75) or higher OR ACCUPLACER NextGen Arithmetic (254) or higher OR MATH 090 with a C or higher, and ACCUPLACER Classic Sentence Skills (71) or higher OR ACCUPLACER NextGen Writing (245) or higher OR ENGL 092 with a C or higher, and ACCUPLACER Classic Reading Comprehension (71) or higher OR ACCUPLACER NextGen Reading (247) or higher OR RDG 085 with a C or higher OR Instructor permission.
Future Offerings:
Spring 2021-2022
04/05/2022-06/22/2022 Online Smith Openings: 24
AQUA 180 Oceanography 3 CR
An introduction to the principles of oceanography, with an overview of the physical, geological, chemical, and biological components of marine environments. This course will cover plate tectonics, circulation and currents, weather events, and coastal and pelagic ecosystems. Students will also learn about issues affecting the Pacific Ocean, such as polar ice cap melting, offshore drilling, and ocean acidification.
Prerequisites:
ACCUPLACER Classic Arithmetic (75) or higher OR ACCUPLACER NextGen Arithmetic (254) or higher OR MATH 090 with a C or higher, and ACCUPLACER Classic Sentence Skills (71) or higher OR ACCUPLACER NextGen Writing (245) or higher or ENGL 092 with a C or higher, and ACCUPLACER Classic Reading Comprehension (71) or higher OR ACCUPLACER NextGen Reading (247) or higher OR RDG 085 with a C or higher OR Instructor permissio
Future Offerings:
AQUA 195 Fisheries Practicum 4 CR
This lab course provides hands on training to reinforce the learning objectives in AQUA 170, AQUA 180, and AQUA 190. Students will practice techniques for habitat assessments and sampling methodology for aquatic invertebrate and vertebrate species in freshwater and marine environments. This course also covers disease monitoring and implementing treatment plans for sustainable aquaculture, along with advanced husbandry practices for rearing juveniles.
Prerequisites:
ACCUPLACER Classic Arithmetic (75) OR ACCUPLACER NextGen Arithmetic (254) or higher OR MATH 090 with a C or higher, and ACCUPLACER Classic Sentence Skills (71) or higher OR ACCUPLACER NextGen Writing (245) or ENGL 092 with a C or higher, and ACCUPLACER Classic Reading (71) or higher OR ACCUPLACER NextGen Reading (247) or higher OR RDG 085 with a C or higher or Instructor permission.
Future Offerings:
Spring 2021-2022
04/05/2022-06/22/2022 TTh 12:00p-2:30p Smith Openings: 12
W Smith
W 9:00a-2:30p Smith
04/05/2022-06/22/2022 MW 12:00p-2:30p Smith Openings: 12
T Smith
T 9:00a-2:30p Smith

Program Outcomes

Students who successfully complete the Fisheries & Aquaculture Techniques Certificate will be able to:

Demonstrate competency in hatchery methods and apply appropriate techniques to spawn, incubate, rear, and release fish.
Demonstrate competency in shellfish hatchery and aquaculture methods and apply appropriate techniques to raise diatoms, spawn shellfish, set seed, plant seed, culture and harvest shellfish.
Demonstrate competency in Habitat Restoration methods and apply techniques to improve and restore habitat, plant native vegetation, eliminate invasive species, and add woody debris and gravel to streams.
Demonstrate competency in field research, stream surveys, tag studies, spawning assessments, and smolt trap projects.

Employment Outlook

Employment opportunities for fish hatchery specialists should remain the same or increase due to the increased listings of endangered species.

Faculty & Support

Brittany Palm

bpalm@btc.edu

Sara Smith

sasmith@btc.edu

Fall 2021-2022
09/20/2021-12/09/2021	Online	Smith	Openings: 24
	Register for this class
Spring 2021-2022
04/05/2022-06/22/2022	Online	Smith	Openings: 24

Fall 2021-2022
09/20/2021-12/09/2021	MW	8:00a-12:00p	Smith	Openings: 12
	Register for this class
09/20/2021-12/09/2021	TTh	8:00a-12:00p	Smith	Openings: 12
	Register for this class

Winter 2021-2022
01/04/2022-03/24/2022	MW	8:30a-11:30a	Palm	Openings: 12
01/04/2022-03/24/2022	MW	12:30p-3:30p	Palm	Openings: 12

Spring 2021-2022
04/05/2022-06/22/2022	TTh	12:00p-2:30p	Smith	Openings: 12
	W		Smith
	W	9:00a-2:30p	Smith
04/05/2022-06/22/2022	MW	12:00p-2:30p	Smith	Openings: 12
	T		Smith
	T	9:00a-2:30p	Smith

Fisheries and Aquaculture Techniques

Fisheries and Aquaculture Techniques

Fisheries and Aquaculture Techniques - Certificate

Employment Information

Entry Information

When Can I Start?

What are the Minimum Entry Requirements?

What are My Next Steps?

Classes

Total Program Credits: 39

Quarter 1

Quarter 2

Quarter 3

Program Outcomes

Employment Outlook

Faculty & Support

Brittany Palm

Sara Smith