Seabass in the Classroom

The Seabass in the Classroom (SITC) educational program was established by Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute (HSWRI) in 2011. The primary goal of this STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math)-based program is to develop and teach a novel science curriculum that will inspire budding scientists and expand their awareness of ocean resource sustainability. The centerpiece of the program for each participating school is a purpose-built fish tank and sophisticated life support system installed in each classroom to hold the fish for several months while teachers educate their students with formal lesson plans covering a range of topics important to those interested in making a career in marine or fisheries biology, aquaculture, engineering or ocean sustainability.

Students raise juvenile white seabass (WSB) and release them at the end of the semester into local waters. During the time that these fish are in the classroom, students are learning about the sustainability and conservation of a natural resource through the practices of environmental science, including: the importance of daily water quality monitoring, animal husbandry important to both animal and human health, and engineering principles behind tank design and functionality. This program is incorporated into HSWRI’s ongoing Ocean Resources and Enhancement Program (OREHP), an initiative that has been replenishing depleted stocks of white seabass in southern California since 1983.

Visit the SITC page for more information.