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Paid Aquaculture Internship Program Planned, Applications Open

Louisiana Sea Grant (LSG) is developing an internship program to help bolster the state’s aquaculture workforce. The program will begin in late August, with recruitment and participant applications having started.

“Louisiana’s aquaculture landscape – alligators, catfish, oysters, finfish, soft-shelled crab – is robust, but entry into the system is typically based on kinship. Businesses are passed down from generation to generation, for example,” said Elizabeth Robinson, director of LSG’s oyster research lab and the Michaael C. Voisin Oyster Hatchery and principal investigator for the project.

“Producers often mention a lack of applicants, or applicants’ lack of experience or knowledge, as barriers to maintaining or expanding business production. Often, producers must hire foreign workers through H-2A or H-2B visas to keep their operations running. So, they’ve suggested creating training opportunities, vocational programs and certification programs to help boost the domestic workforce,” Robinson said. “This pilot project is designed to broaden the workforce by creating trained personnel in a variety of aquaculture sectors.”

The Aquaculture Internship Pilot Program will accept applications from anyone who has an interest in aquaculture and at least a high school diploma or GED. “To be successful, though, interns should enjoy working in rural environments and be willing to get wet or dirty,” added Robinson.

Twelve interns will receive two weeks of training focused on different aspects of aquaculture – one week in Baton Rouge and the other on Grand Isle. Following that training, interns will start working with partner businesses for 12 weeks – with the possibility of a 12-week extension. Interns also will participate in a two-day seafood processing workshop and a one-day business and marketing workshop. Interns will be paid $20 per hour, up to 40 hours per week, and will be reimbursed for travel expenses related to orientation, bootcamp and workshops. Interns will be paid during training and workshop events.

Aside from developing a comprehensive training program, the pilot project will produce a Louisiana Aquaculture Best Practices Manual that will include case studies in the alligator, crawfish, oyster and soft-shell blue crab industries.

Co-principal investigators on the project are Dani DiIullo, LSG Education and Engagement director, and Wood Oglesby, Alternative Oyster Culture extension coordinator for LSG. Other LSG and LSU AgCenter collaborators include water quality specialist M.P. Hayes, and seafood extension specialist Evelyn Watts.

Funding for the two-year project comes from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

For more information, visit (www.laseagrant.org/outreach/aquaculture/internship) or contact Robinson at lasgoysterlab@lsu.edu.

Businesses interested in participating in the program can apply at https://lsu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1NA4B1FIgparYB8.

Individuals interested in the internship can apply at https://lsu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9sOVNmfMXgPvtFY.

Aquaculture Internship Dates

  • Orientation – Week of Aug. 24. Location to be determined
  • Aquaculture Bootcamp – Week of Aug 31. Location: Grand Isle, LA
  • Interns to begin working with participating businesses the week of Sept. 7
  • Seafood Processing Workshop – Sept. 29-30. Location: Jeanerette, LA
  • Business and Marketing Workshop – Nov. 4. Location: Harvey, LA