Have you ever looked out at the coast and wondered what the lines of buoys along the surface might be? Chances are, if you are in Washington state, you might be looking at one of the most sustainable forms of agriculture that exists: shellfish farming. Washington continually ranks as the nation’s top producer of farmed shellfish, which includes oysters, clams, and mussels, and is a robust and growing sector of the blue economy. If you share a passion for healthy oceans and providing food for your community, then the Aquaculture- Shellfish Specialization AAS Degree is the right path for you. Demands for sustainable seafood are on the rise as the global population is projected to exceed 9 billion people in 2050. To help meet this need, domestic seafood production is on the rise, and students in this program will be trained in the essential career skills to join this expanding and in-demand job sector. Students will learn about shellfish reproduction, nutrition, and health, while performing a variety of hatchery and field operations. Training courses are offered in both in-person and online formats to increase scheduling flexibility to allow for continuous live animal and algae care and travel to field sites. To further enhance the learning experience, students are provided off-site training in a variety of industry partner facilities, including the nation’s largest family-owned shellfish farm. In addition to shellfish aquaculture, students will be exposed to the emerging sector of seaweed farming. Seaweed farming is relatively new to Washington state and is currently the fastest growing sector of aquaculture. Ready to start your career in shellfish culturing? Your training experience awaits at Washington state’s only dedicated college hatchery for shellfish and seaweed workforce training. Upon completion of this AAS degree, students will also receive the Aquaculture Theory, Fundamentals of Aquatic Science, and Seaweed and Mollusk Culturing Techniques Certificates.