Howdy! Y'all, unfortunately its been a rough go of it trying to find employment after graduation. Anyone in this forum able to help me get into the aquaculture world? Trying to find an in and it's proven very, very difficult. I graduated back in August and I want to eventually run my own aquaculture business, but I need the experience and work my way up somewhere before I can do that. I have experience in aquaculture systems and aquatic husbandry, with a litany of other skills from my time working in a field-research heavy volunteer role at a lab at TAMUG, but I'm not getting a bite on job apps. I'm open to anything, just hoping to get into aquaculture. Any help from the Ags would be MUCH appreciated.

I went your route in college, well technically Marine Fisheries class 04. I cleaned aquariums for a year. Worked in an environmental lab for 6ish months. Got on with Texas Agrilife in Corpus/Port A in 2006 for Shrimp Mariculture research until early 2011. I was in the oilfield from 12-21. Now work for UTA/ TWDB and some TCEQ.

Couldn't even tell you what's out there for MARB grads. Such a specialized degree especially if you focused on aquaculture. BB

Last I knew the shrimp raceway systems I worked on were being used/developed in Minn. Could look in Hawaii, that's where we got our post- larvae. There's always TPWD, but I'm sure you've applied there and dealing with the frustration of not hearing anything back.

Maybe try to get in contact with a couple different county marine agents with Texas Sea Grant. They will know the aquaculture folks in their county. The one I knew has retired, but she would have been a great contact. I can only guess that her replacement will be similar. https://texasseagrant.org/
Good luck. Strange times right now. Seems everyone thinks a crash is coming any minute now, but businesses keep on growing while they wait.

Volunteer with TPWD or whatever local state agency can help get your foot in the door. If you are willing to travel, you can get experience at some of the aquaculture sites in remote Alaska.