Fisheries Technology

The Outlook

Career opportunities for Fisheries Technology graduates include positions as fisheries technicians, fish culturists, aquaculture technicians, hatchery technicians/operators, and water treatment operators. Additionally, positions exist in the private sector and with government agencies such as the Department of Environmental Conservation and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. In this growing field, graduates will also have the potential for self-employment.

The Program

The Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree in Fisheries Technology is designed to provide students with knowledge, field experience, and training that will prepare them for careers in areas of fisheries management and fish culture. Specifically, students will gain hands-on experience with modern fisheries equipment and procedures. Additionally, the required internship will provide real-world experience in fisheries work.

Graduates of the Fisheries Technology degree program will be competitive candidates for entry-level positions within local, state, and federal natural resource agencies. Graduates will also be employable at private fish hatcheries, preserves, and environmental consulting firms.

The Experience

The Finger Lakes region of central and western New York provides an exceptional outdoor classroom for students interested in Fisheries Technology. Field experiences are conducted both on- and off-campus on a variety of freshwater bodies including streams, ponds, and lakes. Currently, FLCC owns six research vessels, including a state-of-the-art electrofishing boat. Students utilize industry-standard equipment, such as water sampling and testing devices, backpack electrofishers, fish tagging and marking equipment, and a wide variety of aquatic sampling nets.

The Fish Culture and Aquatic Research Center located at the College’s Muller Conservation Field Station, south of Honeoye Lake, provides students unique learning experiences in fish culture and aquaculture. Fish culturing operations focus on the collection, spawning, raising and stocking of walleye by utilizing both intensive and extensive techniques. Students are also trained in the use of water recirculation and biofiltration techniques for various aquaculture applications at the Muller Conservation Field Station and at the Collin’s Fish Culture Center on the Canandaigua Campus.

Curriculum Requirements

Students are required to complete a minimum of 67 semester hours, with a grade point average of not less than C(2.00)

Students who are transferring to four-year institutions should follow the general education course requirements for transfer to SUNY and non-SUNY schools.

All associate degree programs require English 101 Freshman English and English 102 Introduction to Literature. Students must pass skills assessment for entrance into these courses. Students who are well prepared may substitute ENG 104 English I Honors and ENG 105 English II Honors for ENG101 and ENG102. Students who are considering the English Honors sequence should consult the Director of Honors.

Students must successfully complete:

Humanities

  • ENG101 Freshman English and ENG 102 Introduction to Literature
    or
    ENG104 English I Honors and ENG105 English II Honors
  • Social Science 6 credit hours of social science elective

Natural Sciences and Mathematics

  • BIO 121 General Biology I
  • BIO 122 General Biology II
  • BIO 221/CON 202 Principles of Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology
  • MAT 121 Statistics I

Conservation

  • CON 100 Introduction to Environmental Conservation
  • CON 102 Introduction to Fish and Wildlife
  • CON 103 Environmental Chemistry Testing and Analysis
  • CON 116 Fisheries Techniques
  • CON 201 Conservation Recreation Practicum Internship
  • CON 214 Fisheries Management
  • CON 218 Fish Culture Techniques
  • CON 219 Introduction to Aquaculture
  • CON 229 Stream Ecology and Monitoring
  • CON 246 Limnology

Information Management

  • CSC 134 Core Word
  • CSC 135 Core Excel
  • CSC 136 PowerPoint

Physical Education

  • 4 credit hours

Electives

  • 3 credit hours of general electives (COM 110 Public Speaking recommended)

Fisheries Technology

Sample Schedule

First Semester (15 Credit Hours)

  • ENG 101 Freshman English (3)
  • BIO 121 General Biology (4)
  • CON 100 Introduction to Conservation (3)
  • CON 116 Fisheries Techniques (3)
  • CSC 134 Core Word (1)
  • PE Elective (1)

Second Semester (18 Credit Hours)

  • ENG102 Introduction to Literature (3)
  • BIO 122 General Biology II (4)
  • CON 102 Introduction to Fish and Wildlife (3)
  • CON 103 Environmental Chemistry: Testing and Analysis (3)
  • CSC 135 Core Excel (1)
  • Social Science Elective (3)
  • PE Elective (1)

Third Semester (18 Credit Hours)

  • CON 202/BIO 221-Principles of Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology (3)
  • CON 219 Introduction to Aquaculture (3)
  • CON 246 Limnology (4)
  • CSC 136 PowerPoint (1)
  • MAT 121 Statistics I (3)
  • General Elective (3)
  • PE Elective (1)

Fourth Semester (16 Credit Hours)

  • CON 201 Conservation Recreation Practicum Internship (3)
  • CON 214 Fisheries Management (3)
  • CON 218 Fish Culture Techniques (3)
  • CON 229 Stream Ecology and Monitoring (3)
  • Social Science Elective (3)
  • PE Physical Education Elective (1)

In the A.A.S. Natural Resources Conservation Degree program, students may take one ENV elective in place of a CON elective.