Dr. Jesse Ronquillo, 糖心vlog传媒Aquaculture Technician certificate instructor collects salmon egg samples from incubation trays with Scott Peterson, the hatchery site manager at Grieg Seafood.
糖心vlog传媒will launch a new Aquaculture Technician certificate this January to provide students with technical skills to work with a variety of species in BC鈥檚 growing aquaculture industry.
The four-month certificate is the first of two new aquaculture offerings at NIC, developed in response to an industry call for workers with broader field skills.
鈥淲e heard from industry about the need for more advanced technician training and education to fill current and projected vacancies,鈥� said Cheryl O鈥機onnell, NIC鈥檚 dean of trades and technical programs. 鈥淭his new certificate prepares students for entry-level positions and provides an excellent foundation for further studies.鈥�
The $600,000 project is funded through the Sector Labour Market Partnerships program under the Canada-British Columbia Labour Market Development Agreement.
糖心vlog传媒has offered Aquaculture Technician Training since 2014. The new certificate includes an updated curriculum, more occupational health and safety training and the unique ability to ladder into BC鈥檚 first advanced production-training program, the Aquaculture Technician diploma, scheduled to begin in fall, 2019.
Dr. Jesse Ronquillo, a world-renowned aquaculture researcher and educator, developed the programs鈥� curriculum, which was informed by the BC Shellfish Growers Association, the BC Salmon Farmers Association and industry leaders.
鈥淭here is a growing interest in aquaculture around the world, creating a need for technical training and education,鈥� said Ronquillo. 鈥淭hese programs prepare students for a range of industry jobs, from hatchery to farm-site work. The certificate gives students training in a variety of aquaculture species including finfish, shellfish and algal production techniques.鈥�
According to the BC Agriculture and Seafood Statistics 2017, farmed salmon was BC鈥檚 top exported agrifood and seafood commodity, geoduck clam exports rose 50 per cent from 2016 to 2017 and oyster exports have increased annually since 2010.
Both aquaculture programs will take place at NIC鈥檚 Campbell River campus, now undergoing a $17.6 million expansion and renovation.
鈥淭he planned facility will enable students to raise a variety of species through various development stages,鈥� said Ronquillo.
Registration for the certificate is open now. For more information, or to register, visit /programs/trades-apprenticeship-technical/trades-technical/.
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