Plunge into a Thriving Career in Aquaculture, Aquarium Science, and Aquaponics at UNE
Take a deep dive into the mysterious world beneath the water’s surface. Become skilled in caring for the aquatic animals and plants that populate our zoos and aquariums and learn the intricacies of the fastest growing sector of the food industry: the cultivation of marine and freshwater species.
With the only Bachelor of Science in Aquaculture, Aquarium Science, and Aquaponics in the U.S., UNE is the ideal place for your studies — and our unique riverside and oceanfront campus offers endless opportunities for hands-on learning.
When you graduate, you’ll be ready for a range of aquatic science professions in the fields of marine and freshwater aquaculture and in the educational, maintenance, and design needs of local, regional, and national aquarium museums and businesses.
Why UNE for Your Bachelor of Science in Aquaculture, Aquarium Science, and Aquaponics?
Located at the convergence of the Saco River and Atlantic Ocean, we offer direct access to both fresh and salt waters as well as cutting-edge facilities. Other benefits of our program include:
- Recirculating aquaculture, aquaponics, and flow-through seawater systems
- Aquarium Science and Conservation Lab
- Zebrafish facility
- On-campus administration of AALSO (Aquatic Animal Life Support Organization) Level 1 Certification exam
John Reinbott ’18
Have you ever loved something or someone so much that you needed a constant reminder of just how much? Well, I loved my experience in Morocco so much I had it permanently inked on my arm. That's the kind of passion a semester abroad in Morocco creates. As if that weren't enough, my new found love of travel helped me discover my career path.
Upon my return from Tangier, Morocco, I focused on continuing my studies in the marine sciences. Unsure of what path within that field I would take, but yearning for more travel experiences, I enrolled in a travel course that would take me to Belize to study coral reef ecology. Each semester Jeri Fox, associate professor of Marine Biology, offers a course that takes students to Belize to expose them to coral reefs.
After spending eight days snorkeling in the crystal-clear waters of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef off the coast of Ambergris Caye in Belize, I knew I was destined to spend my life helping to conserve and protect these beautiful, fragile coral reefs and their surrounding ecosystems. In order to make this a reality, though, I needed more hands-on experience and that's just what I did.
There was no better way to combine a desire to travel and a need to gain more experience in a field I could spend a lifetime devoted to, than to intern in a foreign land. Before I could apply, I had to get my scuba certification. As with all things, when given the opportunity, I went full speed ahead and completed that certification and began working up to becoming a Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) certified rescue diver. With certification in hand, it was time to apply.
Both UNE travel experiences and my sense of adventure prepared me well to accept the offer to become a coral reef intern at a remote dive base within the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve in Mexico with Global Visions International (GVI). I was incredibly excited to start the two-month journey as I grabbed my mosquito net and GoPro and boarded a plane for destinations little known.
As a coral reef intern, I took part in an in-depth science regiment to learn how to identify sixty coral species by their scientific names. This was achieved by exams conducted on the computer as well as in the field. I and a qualified science officer would dive and as they pointed at a type of coral I would write its name down on a dive slate. After many long days spent repeating these exams, I graduated to reef monitor.
Soon, I was headed out on our dive boats to a nearby monitoring site where I helped collect vital data (reef and species composition/abundance, coral predation and bleaching, the competition of other benthic organisms). The data collected was organized and sent off to other companies such as CONAP and Amigos de Sian Ka'an to help aid in assessing the overall health of surrounding reef ecosystems. Despite the lack of air conditioning, running water, and cell service the two months I spent working with GVI, to help conserve the surrounding section of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, were the best two months of my life.
I returned to my hometown in New Jersey from my internship poised to finish my final year at UNE and land a position at a coral reef conservation organization anywhere in the world. I am grateful for the opportunities I was provided and unbeknownst to it, UNE serendipitously not only gave me a love of travel but a clear direction for where my professional life was headed.
My semester in Tangier, Morocco gave me a love of travel and a travel course — snorkeling among coral reefs in Belize — gave me a career path.
What Will You Study? Aquaculture, Aquarium Science, and Aquaponics Curriculum Overview
There are many ways you can navigate this major. The following are some examples of the exciting courses that you can take:
- Principles of Aquaculture
- Techniques in Finfish and Shellfish Culture
- Health, Nutrition, and Feeding of Cultured Organisms
- Fish Genetics
- Principles of Aquarium Operations and Science
- Environmental Microbiology
Meet our faculty and professional staff
Study Aquaculture, Aquarium Science, and Aquaponics on the Gulf of Maine
Career Paths for Aquaculture, Aquarium Science, and Aquaponics Grads
While developing a solid foundation in aquatic sciences, you will acquire strong analytical business skills, master vast technical skills, and nurture your ability to work closely with others through classes, research, and internships. Virtually all of our graduates are employed in their field or accepted into graduate school within six months of receiving their diplomas, so we know that our students leave the program ready to succeed. In fact, 95% of UNE graduates are employed or pursuing higher education within one year of graduating.
- Aquatic Collection Curator
- Entrepreneur
- Breeder
- Water Quality Technician
- Fish Farmer
- Veterinarian
- Hatchery Manager
- Fisheries Biologist
Career Advising for Aquaculture, Aquarium Science, and Aquaponics
Whether you have a specific career goal in mind or a vague idea of the field that interests you, Career Advising is here to help you plan your next step.
Aquaculture, Aquarium Science, and Aquaponics Facilities
UNE offers some of the best research, lab, and classroom facilities in the nation for the study of marine science — including state-of-the-art marine science buildings, a fleet of research vessels, and our own research island — and you can access all of them right from our main campus in Biddeford, Maine.
Take a Virtual Tour of the Marine Science Center
Experiential Learning in Aquaculture, Aquarium Science, and Aquaponics
Our Bachelor of Science in Aquaculture, Aquarium Science, and Aquaponics degree program provides a skills-heavy, hands-on curriculum that uses an applied approach to marine and freshwater aquatic sciences, giving you real-world experiences — because studying is not the same as doing.
Clubs for Aquaculture, Aquarium Science, and Aquaponics Majors
- Aquaponics club: Provides learning and leadership opportunities within the School of Marine Programs’ student-managed aquaponics lab. The club is responsible for the establishment and maintenance of systems within the lab space and for tending to the fish and plants the systems are centered around. Club members receive hands-on experience with the plumbing and infrastructure required for recirculating aquaculture systems, as well as IACUC training on how to properly care for the fish in the system in compliance with federal regulations. The club’s efforts culminate in the display of edible plants at the living wall in the commons and in the Edible Campus Markets held twice a year to augment the UNE Sustainability Office’s Edible Campus Initiative.
- Aquarium club: Students are given the opportunity to learn and take care of fresh and saltwater tanks. Students learn about different species of fish and how to take care of an aquarium. These students are chosen by the advisor to help with care and maintenance.
Internships in Aquaculture, Aquarium Science, and Aquaponics
Our active community partnership with many organizations provides work experience at diverse sites, including:
- Nonesuch Oyster Co.
- New England Aquarium Services
- Saco Salmon Restoration Alliance and Hatchery
- Gaia Live
- Easy Aquariums
For more information email the Academic and Career Advising Center at advising@une.edu.
Skills and Opportunities learned in Aquaculture, Aquarium Science, and Aquaponics
- Learn to care for aquatic animals and plants
- Design and operate aquaponics systems
- Master the principles of water movement and filtration
- Perform your own research, beginning your first year
- Attend and present at national conferences
Aquaculture, Aquarium Science, and Aquaponics Research Opportunities
Undergraduate research is an essential part of our programs, no matter which major you choose. You will conduct research in the field through your regular coursework beginning in your freshman year, with additional opportunities to gain experience through faculty labs and multi-institutional initiatives. You will perform research beside quality faculty with decades of industry experience and research.
Research Areas in Aquaculture, Aquarium Science, and Aquaponics
The field of Marine Science is as broad and diverse as the vast oceans that cover most of our planet. At UNE we touch upon all facets of marine science with special focuses in the following areas of research.
- Applied Marine Technology
- Biology of Marine Organisms
- Food from the Ocean
- Human Impacts on the Ocean
Learn About Aquaculture Research at UNE
Applied Marine Technology
Applied marine technology is a crucial marine programs research area that cuts across all others. Robotics, research vessels, remote and autonomous underwater vehicles, environmental monitoring, and modeling are all vital tools that enable modern marine research to occur. Researchers in this area are interested in innovations in and novel applications for marine technology.
Biology of Marine Organisms
Our marine programs faculty and professional staff conduct a wide range of research in the areas of biology and ecology of marine organisms. This research area is very broad and ranges from marine genetics to the migration patterns of large animals like sharks, seals, and whales. From seaweed to sharks — plankton to pinnipeds (seals!) our team covers it all.
Food from the Ocean
With a global human population headed towards 10 billion by 2050, understanding the interactions between the ocean and what we eat is more important than ever. Our location on the coast of Maine has a deep heritage and connections to the people and communities who have harvested food from the sea, and the ecosystems that provide it. We have robust research and education programs in this focus area, including fisheries science and management, ecological aquaculture, marine entrepreneurship, migration of highly migratory species, and food web ecology.
Human Impacts on the Ocean
Evidence of human impact on the ocean is everywhere, not just limited to our coastal oceans. Plastics and chemicals have been documented from the deepest depths of the global seas, while climate change affects all aspects of the ocean. More and more, we cannot separate studying the natural ocean environment apart from human influence. Fisheries, microplastics, policy, pollution, conservation, and restoration all fall into this category. UNE marine programs faculty, professional staff, and students are focused on research and solutions across the spectrum of human influence on our seas.
Research Fellowships in Aquaculture, Aquarium Science, and Aquaponics
In addition to lab classes and faculty lab positions, UNE provides pathways for students to obtain research experience through fellowships from partners and programs including Pratt & Whitney, Bristol Seafood, SEANET, and the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience.
Global Education in Aquaculture, Aquarium Science, and Aquaponics
In addition to opportunities to spend a semester abroad in Tangier, Morocco, or Seville, Spain for the same cost as studying at UNE’s Maine campuses, you may choose to enroll in one of our marine sciences-related travel courses. To enroll in these courses and learn more, visit the Global Education Program website.
Interested in studying abroad? Make a plan with your advisor.
Apply Today
Ready to begin your future in UNE’s Bachelor of Science in Aquaculture, Aquarium Science, and Aquaponics? Get started today.
