Native Fish in the Classroom

Native Fish in the Classroom

What is Native Fish in the Classroom?

Goal:

Create an active learning environment to assist students in developing an attitude of stewardship toward natural resources and an appreciation for fisheries management practices through the process of rearing native fish species

Objectives:

  • Provide students with background information of fisheries management, fish biology, protected species, and aquatic natural resources
  • Provide teachers with hands-on classroom lessons unique to Louisiana
  • Maintain a classroom-based nursery aquarium in which students rear fish species native to Louisiana (paddlefish and bass) from eggs to fingerlings.
  • Learn about freshwater ecological systems by understanding the role of fisheries management and how it benefits the whole freshwater system.

Why paddlefish?

  • Paddlefish spawning cycles coincide with the spring semester of school year
  • Paddlefish eggs are large enough to view with the naked eye
  • They have distinctive life-stages and develop into fingerlings in about a month and a half
  • They are a regulated species of conservation concern in Louisiana
  • They are a living fossil

Why Largemouth Bass?

  • Their spawning cycles coincide with the spring semester of the school year
  • Their eggs are large enough to view with the naked eye
  • They have distinctive life stages and develop into fingerlings in 4-6 weeks
  • They are the most popular freshwater sportfish in the United States
  • They can be released into LDWF-approved public waterbodies across Louisiana, allowing more teachers/ schools to participate
  • Not as challenging as Paddlefish to rear and should have a greater success rate

How Can Teachers Participate in the Program?

  • Qualified candidates, who teach 6th through 12th grade students in Louisiana, may apply. However, this program is geared towards science-based content which is aligned to the state standards.
  • Candidates will submit an application, attend all workshops, the spawn event and the release event.
  • The candidate’s principal will provide a letter of support for the program through the application process.
  • The application period opens in the spring and closes June 1st of each year.

What is Included for Participating Schools?

  • Two training workshops: summer and winter which focus on biology, fisheries management, aquaculture maintenance, importance of native species, and stewardship
  • Teacher manual: background information, aquaria setup and maintenance, and lesson plans
  • Equipment loaned by LDWF: aquaria setup and supplies
  • Support: who to contact for help and trouble-shooting
  • Logging classroom hours through an online portal and completing an end of year survey

Schedule:

  • August:attend orientation workshop
  • September-October:set up tank in classroom and stock with catfish or bluegill; monitor water quality and tank maintenance
  • January:pre-spawn workshop
  • March: attend spawn event (bring eggs back to school with you)
  • March-April: rearing of fish to fingerling size
  • April/May: attend release event (at the Mermentau River Basin in Jennings)

For more information, contact:

Contact Lindsay Seely at (225) 765-2375 or lseely@wlf.la.gov

Want to learn more about this program and other LDWF educational resources? Click here!