Today, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson announced the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) is now accepting applications from Florida educators to participate in a collaborative aquaculture education training workshop July 26-28, 2023, to help Florida teachers bring aquaculture and aquaponics into their classrooms. 

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Today, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson announced the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) is now accepting applications from Florida educators to participate in a collaborative aquaculture education training workshop July 26-28, 2023, to help Florida teachers bring aquaculture and aquaponics into their classrooms. 

“Florida’s aquaculture industry is dynamic and ever growing, but basic awareness of aquaculture is still a critical need in K-12 classrooms,” said Commissioner Simpson. “By equipping our world-class teachers with aquaculture knowledge and know-how, we can not only offer an engaging hands-on learning opportunity, but we can help meet an increasing demand for skilled aquaculture professionals in Florida.”

FDACS’ Division of Aquaculture, in partnership with the University of Florida, Tropical Aquaculture Lab (UF/IFAS TAL), Florida Sea Grant and the Florida Aquaculture Association, is hosting this intensive 3-day, hands-on aquaculture education workshop. Hosted at the Tropical Aquaculture Lab in Ruskin, Florida, the training will provide Florida educators with all the knowledge and know-how to teach students about aquaculture and start their own aquaculture systems.

FDACS and UF/IFAS TAL will also competitively award up to six full recirculating aquaculture systems, as well as a number of supplementary aquaponic system supplies to schools throughout the state of Florida.

The workshop is open to all K-12 science and agriculture educators in Florida. Interested teachers can learn more or complete an application for the workshop and awards by visiting the Division’s Education Page at FDACS.gov/Education/Aquaculture-Educator-Resources. The deadline to submit applications is June 16, 2023, at 5 p.m. EST.

For more information about Commissioner Simpson and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, visit FDACS.gov.

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