Catalog 2026–2027

Aquaculture Certificate

Program Contact: College of Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resource Management
Email: CAFNRM@hawaii.edu

Certificate Description:

The certificate program in Aquaculture is designed to prepare baccalaureate degree seeking students, non-degree seeking students and students in the Tropical Conservation Biology and Environmental Sciences (TCBES) program for employment in aquaculture and related careers requiring experience in breeding, handling, maintaining and propagating aquatic animals, plants and microorganisms. The required courses include courses on the biology, ecology, genetics, propagation, identification, handling and restoration of aquatic species. Research compliance issues (e.g. IACUC requirements) are also covered. The laboratory classes are intended to provide students with hands-on experience for handling and rearing organisms, and designing and operating life support systems. Interactions with professionals in the diverse field of aquaculture assist the students in gaining valuable contacts in the field as well as exposing students to the highly diverse range of careers requiring aquaculture skills.

Student Learning Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of this certificate, students will be able to:

  1. Have a thorough understanding of, and be able to describe the worldwide extent and importance of aquaculture in the production of food, chemicals, recreation and environmental mitigation.
  2. Become familiar with, and be able to compare and contrast the major types and components of aquaculture systems, species and factors affecting system sustainability.
  3. Identify global cultural, social, economic and historical factors that affect aquaculture development with an emphasis on the Hawaiʻi and Pan-Pacific region and be able to describe specifically how these factors affect aquaculture.
  4. Explain the relationship between aquaculture, society and the natural environments for the major aquaculture areas around the world, including potential impacts (positive and negative), and how environmental and social challenges can be solved. Emphasis will be placed on Hawaiʻi and the Pan-Pacific region, although regions such as Latin America and SE Asia will also be covered.
  5. Have experiential learning opportunities (e.g. hands-on experiences at laboratories, farms, demonstration centers) to acquire skills and abilities including hatchery, growout, harvesting, maintenance of aquaculture production systems and marketing of aquaculture species to enhance their competitiveness in their future careers.

Curriculum (17 Credits):

Required for all: (6 Credits)

  • AQUA 262 Intro Aquaculture (3) Introduction to Aquaculture (3) [F&S]
  • AQUA 425 Water Qual & Aquatic Product (3) Water Quality and Aquatic Production (3) [S]

Choose one of the following three tracks:

Track 1: Invertebrates/Aquatic Plants Track (11 Credits)

  • AQUA 353 Invertebrate & Algae Culture (3)
  • AQUA 353L Cultures of Invertebrates Lab (1)
  • MARE 372 Biology Of Marine Plants (3)
  • 4 Credits from the below list:
    • AG 291 Directed Work Experience Pgm (3) (work hours must be on an aquaculture topic with prior approval from the aquaculture faculty) OR MARE 104 Marine Option Program Project (2) (project must be on an aquaculture topic with prior approval from the aquaculture faculty)
    • AGEN 400 Aquaculture Engineering (4)
    • AQUA 254 Nutrition of Aquatic Organisms (3)
    • AQUA 352 Aquaculture of Fishes (3)
    • AQUA 352L Aquaculture of Fishes Lab (1)
    • AQUA 466 Fisheries Science (3)
    • MARE 371 Biology Of Marine Invertebrate (3)
    • MARE 371L Bio Of Marine Invertebrate Lab (1)
    • MARE 372L Biology of Marine Plants Lab (1)
    • MARE 484 Biology Of Fishes (3)
    • MARE 484L Biology Of Fishes Laboratory (1)
    • MKT 301 or ECON 100 Intro To Economics (3) (choose only one of these two courses)

Track 2: Fish Aquaculture Track (11 Credits)

  • AQUA 352 Aquaculture of Fishes (3)
  • AQUA 352L Aquaculture of Fishes Lab (1)
  • MARE 484 Biology Of Fishes (3)
  • 4 Credits from the below list:
    • AG 291 Directed Work Experience Pgm (3) (work hours must be on an aquaculture topic with prior approval from the aquaculture faculty) OR MARE 104 Marine Option Program Project (2) (project must be on an aquaculture topic with prior approval from the aquaculture faculty)
    • AGEN 400 Aquaculture Engineering (4)
    • AQUA 254 Nutrition of Aquatic Organisms (3)
    • AQUA 352 Aquaculture of Fishes (3)
    • AQUA 352L Aquaculture of Fishes Lab (1)
    • AQUA 353 Invertebrate & Algae Culture (3)
    • AQUA 353L Cultures of Invertebrates Lab (1)
    • AQUA 466 Fisheries Science (3)
    • MARE 371 Biology Of Marine Invertebrate (3)
    • MARE 371L Bio Of Marine Invertebrate Lab (1)
    • MARE 372 Biology Of Marine Plants (3)
    • MARE 372L Biology of Marine Plants Lab (1)
    • MARE 484 Biology Of Fishes (3)
    • MARE 484L Biology Of Fishes Laboratory (1)
    • MKT 301 or ECON 100 Intro To Economics (3) (choose only one of these two courses)

Track 3: Aquaculture Systems (11 Credits)

  • AGEN 400 Aquaculture Engineering (4)
  • AQUA 254 Nutrition of Aquatic Organisms (3)
  • Choose one of:
    • AQUA 352 Aquaculture of Fishes (3) and AQUA 352L Aquaculture of Fishes Lab (1)
    • AQUA 353 Invertebrate & Algae Culture (3) and AQUA 353L Cultures of Invertebrates Lab (1)