Program Overview
Pilot Program
The aquaculture, seafood, commercial fishing, and marine industry is prime for growth in GO Virginia Region 6, especially in the Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula as well as GO Virginia Region 5’s Eastern Shore. In 2023, Virginia Tech and Rappahannock Community College launched a pilot, Promoting Careers in Aquaculture, to help high school students gain awareness of the aquaculture industry and get hands-on experience in the field with industry partners. 13 students and 10 industry partners participated in the pilot.
In 2024, the program focused on the Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula region and continued to create positive career and growth opportunities for students and industry partners. The program also included a new project element that extended to local K-12 educators to build on previous success and help to create a long-term sustainability plan. In 2025, the program will expand its reach to include the Eastern Shore and Hampton Roads.
2025 & 2026 Program Timeline
2025 & 2026 Program Timelines
Winter: Program applications due. Applicants will be notified about acceptance to the program within one business week.
Spring: Students complete nine online learning modules. Online learning modules due. Students will be notified about placement into Summer Program for Aquaculture Training (S.P.A.T.).
Summer: Northern Neck S.P.A.T. - Northern Neck Summer Internship Program to begin with assigned Industry Partner (Students only).
Summer: Middle Peninsula, Hampton Roads, and Eastern Shore S.P.A.T. - Middle Peninsula, Hampton Roads, and Eastern Shore Summer Internship Programs to begin with assigned Industry Partner (Students only).
Summer: Teacher Training for Northern Neck, Middle Peninsula, Hampton Roads, and Eastern Shore - VT Seafood AREC, Industry Visits, Lesson Plan Prep. Teachers' lesson plans due.
Late Summer: Students and teachers will be awarded their cash stipends. Students will receive a digital badge, and teachers will receive a credential with continuing education units.
Over the two program years, 93 students/teachers were trained, 12 businesses were directly served, 21 new internships were created, and 79 digital badges were awarded. The project team continues to track progress on the listed outcomes.
Our Partners
The Promoting Careers in Aquaculture 2.0 program was funded in part by GO Virginia, a state-funded initiative administered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) that strengthens and diversifies Virginia's economy and fosters the creation of higher wage jobs in strategic industries.