Baldwin County residents interested in a paid opportunity to learn more about aquaculture and training opportunities near Fort Morgan can sign up for free informational webinars on Tuesday, Oct. 27.

The webinars, scheduled for noon and 6 p.m., will provide information about the paid opportunity, including pay, requirements and responsibilities, which may include feeding, monitoring and harvesting, according to the Dauphin Island Sea Lab.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, aquaculture is the "breeding, rearing and harvesting of fish, shellfish, algae and all other organisms in all types of water environments." Unlike traditional fishing, which usually involves harvesting wild seafood, aquaculture involves raising and harvesting seafood in managed environments, including those close to the coast or in open waters.

The training opportunities near Fort Morgan are being presented by The Gulf Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) Demonstration Project, which is a federally funded, state-led pilot designed to show that sustainable, nearshore aquaculture is achievable, scalable and environmentally responsible in the northern Gulf. This project addresses the growing domestic and global demand for seafood while supporting U.S. food production and security goals, coastal economies and workforce development.

Those interested in learning more can register for either webinar at https://disl.edu/events/imta-webinar. Both sessions will present the same information, so participants only need to register for one time slot.

For additional information, contact Ashley McDonald, IMTA project manager at amcdonald@disl.edu.  

Gabriella Chavez is a Report for America corps member who writes about growth and development in Baldwin County and our natural spaces for Gulf Coast Media. Your donation to match our RFA grant helps keep her writing stories like this one; please consider making a tax-deductible gift of any amount today.