2016 – 2017
Florida Department of Education
Curriculum Framework 

Program Title:	Aquaculture Management
Career Cluster:	Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources

AS	
CIP Number	1101030301	
Program Type	College Credit	
Standard Length	63 credit hours	
CTSO	Collegiate FFA	
SOC Codes (all applicable) 	11-9013 - Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers
45-1011 - First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers	
CTE Program Resources 	http://www.fldoe.org/academics/career-adult-edu/career-tech-edu/program-resources.stml	

Purpose

This program offers a sequence of courses that provides coherent and rigorous content aligned with challenging academic standards and relevant technical knowledge and skills needed to prepare for further education and careers in the Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources career cluster; provides technical skill proficiency, and includes competency-based applied learning that contributes to the academic knowledge, higher-order reasoning and problem-solving skills, work attitudes, general employability skills, technical skills, and occupation-specific skills, and knowledge of all aspects of the Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources career cluster. 

The content includes but is not limited to instruction that prepares individuals to apply the economic and business principles involved in the organization, operation and management of aquaculture farms and businesses.  Content includes, but is not limited to, instruction in ichthyology, fish breeding, fish nutrition, pond maintenance, diagnosis and treatment of diseases in fish, economic and marketing principles for the production of an aquatic crop, business management of a fish farm, and field experience necessary to operate an aquaculture operation.

Additional Information relevant to this Career and Technical Education (CTE) program is provided at the end of this document.

Program Structure

This program is a planned sequence of instruction consisting of 63 credit hours.

Standards

After successfully completing this program, the student will be able to perform the following:

01.0	Identify important aquaculture plants and animals and describe their culture in various production units.
02.0	Perform general aquaculture production unit operations.
03.0	Determine methods of fish identification.
04.0	Demonstrate an understanding of water quality and aquaculture.
05.0	Maintain optimal nutrition for aquaculture organisms.
06.0	Diagnose and control common aquaculture maladies.
07.0	Operate and maintain aquaculture equipment.
08.0	Assist in the maturation, spawning, larval and juvenile rearing of aquaculture organisms.
09.0	Perform general aquaculture nursery systems operations.
10.0	Demonstrate an ability to manage aquatic species in multiple production units over time.
11.0	Apply business, economic and marketing principles to the production of an aquatic crop.
12.0	Demonstrate management skills required to operate an aquaculture farm.
13.0	Manage a pond operation.

2016 – 2017
Florida Department of Education
Student Performance Standards

Program Title:	Aquaculture Management
CIP Number:		1101030301
Program Length:	63 credit hours
SOC Code(s):	11-9013, 45-1011

The AS degree requires the inclusion of a minimum of 15 credits of general education coursework according to SACS, and it must be transferable according to Rule 6A-14.030 (2), F.A.C.  At the completion of this program, the student will be able to:	
01.0	Identify important aquaculture plants and animals and describe their culture in various production units – the student will be able to:	
01.01	Define aquaculture and describe the historical important of aquaculture to local, state, national and international economies.	
01.02	List occupations in aquaculture production, processing, distribution, marketing, and service.	
01.03	Identify important aquatic species and products produced by aquatic farmers in Florida, U. S., and foreign countries.	
01.04	List the types of production units and systems employed by aquaculturist in Florida, U. S. and foreign countries.	
01.05	Outline basic techniques for constructing ponds, tanks, raceways, net pens and cages.	
01.06	Describe basic production techniques for the culture of plants, mollusks, crustaceans, and finfish.	
01.07	List and describe the major factors in growth of aquaculture species.	
01.08	List important criteria in selecting a site for an aquaculture farm.	
01.09	Describe natural fisheries and aquaculture production trends.	
02.0	Perform general aquaculture production unit operations – the student will be able to:	
02.01	Identify and describe the general anatomy, biology and life cycles for aquaculture species studied in this program.	
02.02	Identify and describe the general morphology of aquatic macro and microalgae. 	
02.03	List methods to help determine aquatic animal health and behavior for various aquaculture production units.	
02.04	List techniques for routine maintenance of aquaculture ponds, cage culture systems, and submerged lands.	
02.05	Identify common aquaculture predators and list predator control techniques	
02.06	Record production data such as water quality parameters, feed amounts, mortality and other routine information required for a specific operation on data sheets and enter into a computer.	
03.0	Determine methods of fish identification – the student will be able to:	
03.01	Identify the major families of fish.	
03.02	Describe the complexities of fish anatomy for the following systems:
•	Skeletal systems
•	Musculature
•	Nervous system
•	Vascular system
•	Respiratory system
•	Urogenital system
•	Digestive system
•	Reproductive system	
03.03	Identify the major anatomical fish structures.	
03.04	Describe the physiological characteristics of fish for the following:
•	Color
•	Bioluminescence
•	Sound production
•	Sensory systems
•	Osmoregulation	
03.05	Classify fish.	
03.06	Describe the aquatic environment.	
03.07	Discuss the basics of fish behavior.	
03.08	Identify the muscles of a fish.	
03.09	Measure the physical characteristics of fish.	
03.10	Use a taxonomic key to identify fish.	
03.11	Identify the major taxa of fish.	
04.0	Demonstrate an understanding of water quality and aquaculture – the student will be able to:	
04.01	Define environmental variables and list ranges important for survival and growth of important aquaculture species.	
04.02	Demonstrate an understanding of aquifers, water quantity and management, and agricultural water use in Florida.	
04.03	Identify water quality measurements necessary for accurately culturing aquaculture organisms.	
04.04	Measure water quality parameters in aquaculture production units, record data in logs and computers, and interpret results.	
04.05	Describe the nitrogen cycle and identify system equipment and/or processes which reduce nitrogenous wastes.	
04.06	Discuss the importance of oxygen to the maintenance of production units and aquatic animal health and the effect of temperature on oxygen concentration.	
04.07	Describe processes in aquaculture production units that effect pH, alkalinity, carbon dioxide, oxygen, ammonia, and other environmental parameters.	
04.08	Measure primary productivity and discuss its importance in various aquaculture production units.	
04.09	Calculate water volumes for various sizes of aquaculture production units.	
04.10	List potential sources of aquaculture pollution and describe methods of preventing or abating these problems.	
04.11	Identify Best Management Practices for treating waste water from various aquaculture production units.	
05.0	Maintain optimal nutrition for aquaculture organisms – the student will be able to:	
05.01	Explain the digestive anatomy of fish.	
05.02	Explain fish metabolic rates.	
05.03	Identify fish food additives	
05.04	Outline the basic concepts of nutrition for plants, mollusks, crustaceans, and fish.	
05.05	Discuss the importance of nutrition to growth and survival of various aquaculture species.	
05.06	Identify feeding habits and practices of a variety of aquaculture species.	
05.07	List common ingredients and additives of aquatic feeds and identify practices in feeds formulation and manufacturing.	
05.08	Demonstrate an ability to culture live feeds including microalgae, rotifers and artemia and discuss their importance.	
05.09	Calculate feeding rates, growth and feed conversion ratios for various aquaculture species stocked at different densities and rates.	
05.10	List different feeding methods, measure feed and maintain feed records in logs and computers.	
05.11	Discuss and differentiate feeding practices for hatchery, nursery and grow out of mollusks.	
05.12	Discuss nutrition practices for culturing aquatic plants.	
05.13	Discuss the principles of bioenergetics to growth.	
06.0	Diagnose and control common aquaculture maladies – the student will be able to:	
06.01	Identify the common diseases that infect aquaculture organisms.	
06.02	Understand the basic mechanisms for control of disease.	
06.03	Identify common bacterial diseases and treatment options.	
06.04	Identify common mycotic diseases and treatment options.	
06.05	Identify common viral diseases and treatment options.	
06.06	Identify common parasitic diseases and treatment options.	
06.07	Discuss the relationship of nutrition, water quality and stress how they may cause disease in aquaculture organisms.	
06.08	Prepare an aquatic organism for diagnostic examination or shipment.	
06.09	Observe various diseases of aquatic organisms and demonstrate use of a microscope.	
06.10	List approved drugs available for use in aquaculture.	
06.11	Describe approved chemicals and their use in treating diseases.	
06.12	Identify common aquatic parasites found in Florida waters.	
06.13	Identify toxic environmental diseases in fish.	
07.0	Operate and maintain aquaculture equipment – the student will be able to:	
07.01	List equipment used in various production units necessary to raise plants, mollusks, crustaceans, and fish.	
07.02	Set up and maintain standard aquaria.	
07.03	Set up field aquaculture ponds.	
07.04	Measure field parameters such as temperature, salinity, and hardness.	
07.05	Set up a system to culture aquatic plants.	
07.06	Demonstrate an ability to correctly use aquaculture equipment including, but not limited to, a thermometer, oxygen meter, refractometer, pH meter, pump, graduated cylinder, beaker, nets, siphon, scales, sieves, calipers, secchi disk, and a microscope.	
07.07	Set up aquaculture filtration systems.	
07.08	List equipment options of a recirculating system including solids removal, biofiltration, sterilization and aeration, and explain their basic functions.	
07.09	Operate and perform system maintenance on a recirculating system.	
07.10	Estimate pumping requirements and select an appropriately sized pump for a given system and water volume.	
07.11	Layout a PVC plumbing scheme for a given aquaculture system with a sufficient number of valves to allow for bypass and isolation and then measure, cut and assemble that water system.	
07.12	Layout and put together an aeration system operated on airlift technology.	
07.13	Replace and install a pump.	
07.14	Perform simple calculations related to water volume, water flow and system loading. 	
07.15	Use and operate tools and equipment safely.	
07.16	Measure productivity in aquaculture systems.	
08.0	Assist in the maturation, spawning, larval and juvenile rearing of aquaculture organisms – the student will be able to:	
08.01	Describe the reproductive anatomy, function of reproductive organs, and reproductive cycles of selected aquaculture organisms.	
08.02	Differentiate between males and females of the same species.	
08.03	Relate environmental factors to successful reproduction of various aquaculture species.	
08.04	Explain the use of hormones, anesthetics, chemicals, antibiotics, and other techniques to manage broodstock and accelerate reproductive cycles and contrast the difference between environmental conditioning and induced spawning techniques.	
08.05	Maintain and care for broodstock and prepare spawning tanks and/or systems. 	
08.06	Describe maturation, spawning, hatching, and larval rearing techniques for selected aquaculture species.	
08.07	Discuss the importance of nutrition at various stages of the larval rearing cycle for selected aquaculture species.	
08.08	Use a microscope to examine the stages and condition of eggs and larvae. 	
08.09	Prepare, stock, feed and maintain larval rearing tanks.	
08.10	Culture live feeds and calculate feeding rates.	
08.11	Outline a maturation system design for selected aquatic species.	
08.12	List important practices and tasks in hatchery management.	
08.13	Estimate production numbers from a given spawn of a given species.	
08.14	Record hatching date in logs and computers and interpret results. 	
09.0	Perform general aquaculture nursery systems operations – the student will be able to:	
09.01	Maintain, clean and operate a broodstock tank and list important practices in managing broodstock.	
09.02	Start, maintain, count and harvest live feeds.	
09.03	Maintain a nursery system by demonstrating an ability to clean tanks and filtration equipment, adjust water flow and volume, set aeration, and monitor water quality and feeding levels.	
09.04	Describe and differentiate between land-based and field-based nursery systems, equipment and operations.	
09.05	Monitor and record routine data such as feed amounts and times, temperature, oxygen, salinity, and ammonia and enter data into a computer or log book.	
09.06	List and describe nursery production systems and larval husbandry techniques for fish, crustaceans, and mollusks.	
09.07	Demonstrate practical hands-on experience in handling a variety of juvenile aquaculture organisms and operating nursery production units.	
10.0	Demonstrate an ability to manage aquatic species in multiple production units over time – the student will be able to:	
10.01	Identify routine management techniques involved in aquaculture.	
10.02	Calculate system volume and stocking strategies for given aquaculture production units.	
10.03	Develop a written protocol and design data sheets for daily feeding, water quality measuring, system maintenance, and other factors for various aquaculture production units culturing a given species.	
10.04	Periodically sample or otherwise determine growth and production unit biomass/density and adjust feeding rates accordingly.	
10.05	List methods of harvesting aquatic crops from various aquaculture production units and preparing them for shipment to market.	
10.06	Acclimate and transfer aquatic animals from one water source to another.	
10.07	Design, layout, build, and plumb a simple aquaculture recirculating or other aquaculture production unit system.	
10.08	Calculate production area or volume, stocking rates, densities, feeding rates, conversion and growth of a given species for a given aquaculture production unit system being supervised.	
10.09	Demonstrate an understanding of management principles and use of management decision-making tools, including a computer.	
10.10	List communication skills and identify work habits necessary for supervising employees.	
11.0	Apply business, economic and marketing principles to the production of an aquatic crop – the student will be able to:	
11.01	Describe aquaculture production and value of selected species in Florida, domestically, and internationally.	
11.02	List and access sources of market information and statistics for selected aquaculture species. 	
11.03	Identify sources of competition both locally and globally.	
11.04	Identify critical risk factors which may limit success of a farm.	
11.05	Itemize fixed and variable costs of an aquaculture venture.	
11.06	Explain the principles of production economics to include costs, taxes, interest, depreciation, record keeping, cash flow and financial statements.	
11.07	Write a hypothetical business plan and a production plan for an aquaculture venture.	
11.08	Describe factors and variables in selecting a site for an aquaculture facility, including land, water, proximity of markets, labor and community acceptance.	
11.09	Link culture system options to a given site and water resources.	
11.10	Predict hypothetical production numbers for a given facility with given variables. 	
11.11	Outline a simple operating budget for an aquaculture facility including cash flow and financial statement.	
11.12	Describe characteristics of a well-planned aquaculture facility.	
11.13	Demonstrate use of a computer for record keeping, production and decision-making.	
11.14	Evaluate techniques for aquaculture marketing.	
12.0	Demonstrate management skills required to operate an aquaculture farm – the student will be able to:	
12.01	List rules, state statutes and federal regulations important to aquaculture.	
12.02	Explain the regulations that govern aquaculture on the local, state and national levels.	
12.03	Describe permitting procedures for various species, sites and aquaculture production units.	
12.04	List Best Management Practices necessary to operate and permit selected aquaculture facilities.	
12.05	Develop a production plan and budget for a given aquaculture facility, design a record keeping system, establish operating procedures, harvest schedules and determine potential profitability.	
12.06	Demonstrate an ability to maintain farm records including property, insurance, personnel, payroll, permits and licenses, equipment and tangible property, aquatic animal inventory, accounts receivable, accounts payable, and others.	
12.07	Define HACCP and discuss its importance to both processing and aquaculture.	
12.08	List management skills necessary for effective supervision of employees.	
13.0	Manage a pond operation – the student will be able to:	
13.01	Explain the basic techniques for building aquaculture ponds.	
13.02	Explain the aquifer water quality in Florida.	
13.03	Perform water chemistry quality measurements and explain their importance.	
13.04	Produce aquatic plants in an aquaculture environment.	
13.05	Identify filtration systems for aquaculture.	
13.06	Manage water quality.	
13.07	Explain water treatments.	
13.08	Perform plankton analysis.	
13.09	Describe the value of aeration systems.	
13.10	Set up a closed system.	
13.11	Set up cage systems.	
13.12	Measure primary productivity.	
13.13	Explain the importance of pond fertilization.	
13.14	Explain the feeding techniques for large pond operations.	
13.15	Measure density of organisms per acre.	

Additional Information

Laboratory Activities

Laboratory investigations that include scientific inquiry, research, measurement, problem solving, emerging technologies, tools and equipment, as well as, experimental, quality, and safety procedures are an integral part of this career and technical program/course. Laboratory investigations benefit all students by developing an understanding of the complexity and ambiguity of empirical work, as well as the skills required to manage, operate, calibrate and troubleshoot equipment/tools used to make observations. Students understand measurement error; and have the skills to aggregate, interpret, and present the resulting data. Equipment and supplies should be provided to enhance hands-on experiences for students.

Special Notes

Planned and supervised occupational activities may be provided through directed laboratory experience, practicum or cooperative experience.  Whenever the cooperative method of instruction is offered, the following is required for each student:  a training plan signed by the student, teacher, and employer which includes instructional objectives and a list of on-the-job and in-school learning experiences; and a work station which reflects equipment, skills and tasks which are relevant to the occupation which the student has chosen as a career goal.  The student must receive compensation for work performed.

Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO)

Collegiate FFA is the intercurricular career and technical student organization for providing leadership training and reinforcing specific career and technical skills.  Career and Technical Student Organizations provide activities for students as an integral part of the instruction offered.  

Accommodations

Federal and state legislation requires the provision of accommodations for students with disabilities to meet individual needs and ensure equal access. Postsecondary students with disabilities must self-identify, present documentation, request accommodations if needed, and develop a plan with their counselor and/or instructors. Accommodations received in postsecondary education may differ from those received in secondary education. Accommodations change the way the student is instructed. Students with disabilities may need accommodations in such areas as instructional methods and materials, assignments and assessments, time demands and schedules, learning environment, assistive technology and special communication systems. Documentation of the accommodations requested and provided should be maintained in a confidential file.

Certificate Programs

A College Credit Certificate consists of a program of instruction of less than sixty (60) credits of college-level courses, which is part of an AS or AAS degree program and prepares students for entry into employment (Rule 6A-14.030, F.A.C.).  This AS degree program includes the following College Credit Certificates:

Aquaculture Technology (0101030302) – 26 credit hours

Standards for the above certificate programs are contained in separate curriculum frameworks.

Additional Resources

For additional information regarding articulation agreements, Bright Futures Scholarships, Fine Arts/Practical Arts Credit and Equivalent Mathematics and Equally Rigorous Science Courses please refer to:
http://www.fldoe.org/academics/career-adult-edu/career-tech-edu/program-resources.stml