Certificates
The CSR is pleased to introduce four new shellfish aquaculture certificates that have been created to satisfy several occupational levels for the shellfish industry. Certificates can be obtained by taking a combination of required and elective courses.
Occupational Level |
Certificate |
Hours |
|---|---|---|
Production Worker |
89 |
|
Technician |
169 |
|
Leadhand | Crew Supervisor |
244 |
|
Manager (Site and General) |
227 |
Management Harvesting For Depuration
This certificate provides students with the essential skills and knowledge to undertake and supervise clam harvesting from off-tenure beaches that require depuration processing. Students will gain an understanding of the shellfish environment and risks of contamination as they affect harvested clams. They will be able to survey clam biomass and abundance following appropriate Fisheries and Oceans Canada protocols, and conduct harvesting activities in accordance with Canadian Shellfish Sanitation Program standards.
| Course No. | Course Name | Type |
|---|---|---|
| AQUA 550T | Clam Beach Survey - Field Methods | Required |
| AQUA 552T | Introduction to Shellfish Culture Concepts | Required |
| AQUA 555T | Clam Beach Survey - Data Analysis | Required |
| AQUA 559T | Shellfish Water Quality Monitoring | Required |
Intertidal Shellfish Culture Technician
This certificate provides students with the essential skills and knowledge to manage an intertidal tenure for the production of bivalve shellfish, including various species of clams and Pacific oysters. It offers a combination of practical field and lab activities, classroom learning and interaction, and an opportunity to engage in an actual clam seeding project on an intertidal tenure.
Students will develop an understanding of the intertidal environment and its relationship to shellfish culture. They will be able to practice husbandry techniques that ensure healthy product yields in an environmentally sustainable manner. In addition, they will be able to conduct shellfish inventories on intertidal tenures as well as harvest all products from the farm in accordance with shellfish sanitation regulations and product safety and quality standards.
| Course No. | Course Name | Type |
|---|---|---|
| AQUA 552T | Introduction to Shellfish Culture Concepts | Required |
| AQUA 568T | Shellfish Harvesting, Processing and Food Safety | Required |
| AQUA 568T | Clam Beach Seeding - Enhancing Productivity | Required |
| AQUA 550T | Clam Beach Survey - Field Methods | Elective |
| AQUA 555T | Clam Beach Survey - Data Analysis | Elective |
| AQUA 561T | Clam Beach Survey Techniques for Growers | Elective |
Elective Courses: AQUA 550T AND AQUA 555T together or AQUA 561T by itself. AQUA 561T is intended for shellfish growers that want to enhance their knowledge.
Shellfish Aquaculture Production & Harvesting
This program provides students who wish to enter the shellfish aquaculture industry with the essential knowledge and skills to participate in the development and operation of an integrated shellfish farming enterprise culturing a variety of bivalve species and operating in both intertidal and deep water environments.
Upon successful completion of the certificate the participants will be able to:
- Assist in the collaborative planning and development of shellfish aquaculture enterprise integrating community perspectives;
- Safely handle basic equipment and work in a safe manner in any commercial shellfish aquaculture operation;
- Perform essential tasks associated with the husbandry of clams, oysters, mussel, scallops and other species of bivalves as well as understand the fundamental biology of these species in the context of culture techniques;
- Harvest and handle all shellfish products from the farm in accordance with shellfish sanitation regulations and product safety and quality standards;
- Understand and observe interactions of farm production with the surrounding environment and follow environmentally sound farm practices; and
- Demonstrate competence in at least one of the following areas: a) clam beach biomass survey and associated data analysis, or b) water and shellfish stock sampling for fecal coliform bacteria, biotoxin, and/or human pathogenic microorganisms (e.g. Vibrio).
| Course No. | Course Name | Type |
|---|---|---|
| AQUA 552T | Introduction to Shellfish Culture Concepts | Required |
| AQUA 553T | Shellfish Growout Systems | Required |
| AQUA 558T | Shellfish Aquaculture Workplace Safety and Skills | Required |
| AQUA 568T | Shellfish Harvesting, Processing and Food Safety | Required |
| QMAR 003 | Marine Emergency Duties (MED) | Required |
| AQUA 564T | Clam Beach Seeding - Enhancing Productivity | Elective A |
| AQUA 653T | Shellfish Culture Practicum | Elective A |
| AQUA 550T | Clam Beach Survey - Field Methods | Elective B |
| AQUA 555T | Clam Beach Survey - Data Analysis | Elective B |
| AQUA 561T | Clam Beach Survey Techniques for Growers | Elective B |
| AQUA 559T | Shellfish Water Quality Monitoring | Elective B |
Elective Course A: AQUA 564T or AQUA 653T; plus one or more of the following
Elective Course B: AQUA 550T AND AQUA 555T together or AQUA 551T, AQUA 561T or AQUA 559T taken individually.
Shellfish Aquaculture General Management
Students that take this course will gain practical business-oriented training. The program is designed to enable individuals to acquire the fundamental knowledge and skills to progress into management positions in shellfish production and integrated production/processing companies, and for individuals to prepare for business start-up in the shellfish aquaculture industry as entrepreneurs.
Upon successful completion of the Shellfish Aquaculture general Management Program, the participants will be able to:
- Assist in the preparation of a business plan and use it as a guide to business operation, including development of a marketing strategy;
- Work effectively in shellfish nursery and growout systems and implement food safety and product quality programs;
- Prepare tenure applications, manage water quality and implement environmental management best practices; and
- Develop and implement a farm health and safety plan.
| Course No. | Course Name | Type |
|---|---|---|
| AQUA 554T | Starting and Operating a Shellfish Aquaculture Business | Required |
| AQUA 568T | Shellfish Harvesting, Processing and Food Safety | Required |
| AQUA 556T | Shellfish Product and Marketing | Required |
| AQUA 565T | Shellfish Tenure Application Process and Federal Permitting for British Columbia | Required |
| AQUA 567T | Environmental Monitoring Building a Better Plan Shellfish Culture | Required |
| AQUA 558T | Shellfish Aquaculture Workplace Safety and Skills | Required |
| AQUA 551T | Shellfish Nursery Systems | Elective A |
| AQUA 553T | Shellfish Growout Systems | Elective A |
| AQUA 550T | Clam Beach Survey - Field Methods | Elective B |
| AQUA 555T | Clam Beach Survey - Data Analysis | Elective B |
| AQUA 561T | Clam Beach Survey Techniques for Growers | Elective B |
| AQUA 559T | Shellfish Water Quality Monitoring | Elective B |
Elective Course A: AQUA 551T or AQUA 553T, plus one or more of the following:
Elective Course B: AQUA 550T AND AQUA 555T together or AQUA 561T or AQUA 559T
For individual course descriptions, click Courses
For a table of course requirements for each certificate, click here