Coastal Institute

University of Connecticut
CT Sea Grant
MA Sea Grant
Roger Williams University
The Education Exchange in Peacedale, RI (adult workforce training center)

This effort seeks to advance aquaculture training opportunities that will result in farm owners who are aware of and can properly address and balance the concerns and needs of coastal citizens. Aquaculture is growing in RI, but is not without challenges. The core of these challenges relate the interaction of society and the environment (i.e. use conflicts). Our proposed training will address these core concerns in a formal education approach, led by experts from across these issues. In addition, the proposed effort will result in a robust course that enhances our shared use of coastal ecosystems in a responsible manner for current and future generations, ensuring the next generation of farm owners/workers are trained in not only farming techniques, but conflict mitigation, responsible stewardship and behavior, and respectful engagement with coastal citizens. The re-vamped training program will not only help farmers and the aquaculture industry, but will showcase to the citizens of RI that those who do farm have been educated in all dimensions of farming, including shared use and proper public engagement, etc.