Students from all of the Putnam County schools are also able to enroll in a two year vocational aquaculture program through the Area 30 Technology Center. A variety of different methods are utilized to teach animal science through aquaculture. In an attempt to increase the credibility of the program and allow students to obtain more science credits, a name change from aquaculture to environmental sciences is being proposed. Tilapia is the choice for most school programs and most schools utilize recirculating systems. At South Putnam students are taken through the production cycle from reproduction through marketing.
Students also explore principles of animal science from nutrition to physiology and anatomy.
Considerable time is spent on water quality in recycling systems as well as in pond and river systems. Recirculating system function, design, construction and management are also examined. The importance of accurate record keeping is stressed. Computer application in aquaculture is also a primary focus. Students are exposed to a variety of important aquaculture species such as hybrid striped bass, yellow perch and largemouth bass and various tropicals including angelfish, African cichlids and goldfish.