Program overview

Take a deep dive into the mysterious world beneath the water’s surface. Become skilled in caring for the aquatic animals and plants that populate our zoos and aquariums, and learn the intricacies of the fastest-growing sector of the food industry: the cultivation of marine and freshwater species. UNE’s bachelor’s degree in Aquaculture and Aquarium Science prepares you for a range of aquatic science professions, and there is no better place for your studies than our unique riverside and oceanfront campus.

The B.S. in Aquaculture and Aquarium Sciences is no longer accepting students. The B.S. in Aquaculture, Aquarium Sciences, and Aquaponics and the B.S. in Sustainable Ecological Aquaculture are UNE’s exciting new majors for students interested in these areas.

Why UNE for Aquaculture and Aquarium Science

With the only Bachelor of Science program in Aquaculture and Aquarium Science in the U.S., UNE is the ideal place for your studies. Located at the convergence of the Saco River and Atlantic Ocean, we offer direct access to both fresh and salt waters as well as cutting-edge facilities.

  • Recirculating aquaculture, aquaponics, and flow-through seawater systems
  • Aquarium Science and Conservation Lab
  • Zebrafish facility
  • On-campus administration of AALSO (Aquatic Animal Life Support Organization) Level 1 Certification exam
U N E marine science student Katie Dimm

Katie Dimm '22

Marine Science

Making a difference now through cutting-edge research

“Research is my passion. It is the core of what I love about marine science,” explained Katie Dimm ’22.

Katie, a Marine Sciences major, discovered her passion at her high school in Ridgefield, Connecticut. “During my sophomore year I took a course called Science Research. All the students in the course had the chance to do independent research, which was a huge jumping-off point for me. I became really interested in studying levels of methylmercury, an organic form of mercury that is highly toxic accumulating in aquatic environments and in particular, sharks.”

After high school, Katie took a gap year to attend Cape Eleuthera Institute which is devoted to research, education, and outreach on the Cape Eleuthera peninsula in the Bahamas. She was able to carry on her shark research while she was there as well as assist with a large array of projects such as the collection of Caribbean spider crabs, shark tagging studies, and sea cucumber and coral reef surveys. It was also during this year that Katie discovered UNE. “I learned about the research opportunities available there, toured the campus, and fell in love with the place. What I liked the most was that I wouldn’t have to wait to carry out research. I could continue the research I had been working on in high school and in the Bahamas with the guidance of my UNE professors.”

Katie started working with Dr. Stephan I. Zeeman who was particularly supportive of her research, especially when she needed to create a controlled environment to further her research. “Long-living apex predators like sharks seem to have an incredible capability to accumulate and handle massive concentrations of mercury making them phenomenal biomarkers for mercury in ecosystems. However, there is a lot of inconsistency in the mercury levels found in various species of sharks. You might think that the larger the shark, the more mercury would be found in their muscle, but that’s not always the case. More recent research has shown that factors such as the depth in which the shark forages, their metabolism turnover times, or if they warm-blooded or cold-blooded could all impact mercury levels. There are many different factors to consider, and unlike other research, you can’t really keep sharks in controlled environments.”

Working with Dr. Zeeman, Katie set up her own lab within UNE’s Marine Science Center working with green crabs to further her research. “By using baseline organisms to analyze how lower-level concentrations of mercury might start to affect the bottom of the food chain, I can hopefully theorize about what could be happening as we move up the chain.”

Katie is also engaged in exciting research with Dr. John A. Mohan, another of her UNE professors. “Using a method new to mercury research, we will be looking for mercury tracers at each individual level of the sharks’ vertebrae and hopefully we’ll be able to map out its accumulation rates over time. This is something I’m really excited about because it, to the best of my knowledge, hasn't been done before, and it could be monumental in terms of finding a way to look at mercury exposure over a long period of time.”

Despite her demanding research schedule, Katie has found time to participate in another activity that complements her research. As president of UNE’s Scuba Club, Katie has been instrumental in creating discover scuba events to help other UNE students try scuba and get them open water certified. “Being able to scuba and free dive is a sometimes underappreciated skill, but it can enhance your marine research capabilities so much.”

Katie credits her professors in helping her manage her studies, research, and extracurricular activities. “The faculty at the Marine Science Center are so supportive. If you have a solid idea, they're going to help you every step of the way. Their support has shaped my experience and is why I have so many phenomenal things going on. With their collective expertise, I have been able to carry out cutting-edge research that I know will have an impact on our understanding of methylmercury accumulation in our aquatic systems.”

[The faculty] support has shaped my experience and is why I have so many phenomenal things going on. With their collective expertise, I have been able to carry out cutting-edge research that I know will have an impact.
Marine Science

Academics

Examples of Available Courses

There are many ways you can navigate this major. The following are some examples of the exciting courses that you can take:

  • Principles of Aquaculture
  • Techniques in Finfish and Shellfish Culture
  • Health, Nutrition, and Feeding of Cultured Organisms
  • Fish Genetics
  • Principles of Aquarium Operations & Science
  • Environmental Microbiology

Meet Chris, Aquaculture '22

An aquaculture major interning at an oyster farm in Georgetown, Maine, Chris is learning — hands on — how to raise a sustainable, renewable protein source with the goal of starting his own oyster farm. 

Careers

While developing a solid foundation in aquatic sciences, you will acquire strong analytical business skills, master vast technical skills, and nurture your ability to work closely with others through classes, research, and internships. With virtually all of the program's graduates employed in their field or accepted into graduate school within six months of receiving their diplomas, we know that our students leave the program ready to succeed. They have pursued a wide range of professions, including:

  • Aquatic Collection Curator
  • Entrepreneur
  • Breeder
  • Water Quality Technician
  • Fish Farmer
  • Veterinarian
  • Hatchery Manager
  • Fisheries Biologist

Career Advising

Whether you have a specific career goal in mind or a vague idea of the field that interests you, Career Advising is here to help you plan your next step.

Global Education

In addition to opportunities to spend a semester abroad in Tangier, Morocco or Seville, Spain for the same cost as studying at UNE's Maine campuses, you may choose to enroll in one of our marine sciences-related travel courses. To enroll in these courses and learn more, visit the Global Education Program website.

Interested in studying abroad? Make a plan with your advisor.

MAR 451: Natural History and Evolution of the Galápagos Fauna

This course is designed to familiarize you with the biota of the Galápagos Islands, island history, ecology, and the behavior and evolution of the islands' animals.

Galápagos Islands Course

Semester-Long Study Abroad Program

Spend a semester abroad in Akureyri on the northeast coast of Iceland. You'll be studying in Iceland's second-largest urban area surrounded by mountains and fjords.

ICELAND PROGRAM

 Faculty and students hike Sólheimajökull glacier

The Institute for North Atlantic Studies of the University of New England is an education and research leader for Maine connected to the North Atlantic/Arctic region grounded in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and built to support local to global collaborative approaches to shared challenges and opportunities.

UNE NORTH

Experiential Learning

Our Aquaculture and Aquarium Science degree program provides a skills-heavy, hands-on curriculum that uses an applied approach to marine and freshwater aquatic sciences, giving you real-world experiences — because studying is not the same as doing.

Internships

Our active community partnership with many organizations provides work experience at diverse sites, including:

  • Nonesuch Oyster Co.
  • New England Aquarium Services
  • Saco Salmon Restoration Alliance and Hatchery
  • Gaia Live

For more information email the Academic and Career Advising Center at advising@c178.net.

Skills and Opportunities

  • Learn to care for aquatic animals and plants
  • Design and operate aquaponics systems
  • Master the principles of water movement and filtration
  • Perform your own research, beginning freshman year
  • Attend and present at national conferences

Hands-on Marine Research

Research Opportunities

Undergraduate research is an essential part of our programs, no matter which major you choose. All students conduct research in the field through their regular coursework beginning in their freshman year, with additional opportunities to gain experience through faculty labs and multi-institutional initiatives.

Research Fellowships

In addition to lab classes and faculty lab positions, UNE provides pathways for students to obtain research experience through fellowships from partners and programs including Pratt & Whitney, Bristol Seafood, SEANET, and the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience.

Research Areas

The field of Marine Science is as broad and diverse as the vast oceans that cover most of our planet. At UNE we touch upon all facets of marine science with special focuses in the following areas of research.

Applied Marine Technology

Applied marine technology is a crucial Marine Programs research area that cuts across all others. Robotics, research vessels, remote and autonomous underwater vehicles, environmental monitoring, and modeling are all vital tools that enable modern marine research to occur. Researchers in this area are interested in innovations in and novel applications for marine technology.

Biology of Marine Organisms

Our Marine Programs faculty and professional staff conduct a wide range of research in the areas of biology and ecology of marine organisms. This research area is very broad and ranges from marine genetics to the migration patterns of large animals like sharks, seals, and whales. From seaweed to sharks — plankton to pinnipeds (seals!) our team covers it all.

Food from the Ocean

With a global human population headed towards 10 billion by 2050, understanding the interactions between the ocean and what we eat is more important than ever. Our location on the coast of Maine has a deep heritage and connections to the people and communities who have harvested food from the sea, and the ecosystems that provide it. We have robust research and education programs in this focus area including fisheries science and management, ecological aquaculture, marine entrepreneurship, migration of highly migratory species, and food web ecology.

Human Impacts on the Ocean

Evidence of human impact on the ocean is everywhere, not just limited to our coastal oceans. Plastics and chemicals have been documented from the deepest depths of the global seas, while climate change affects all aspects of the ocean. More and more, we cannot separate studying the natural ocean environment apart from human influence. Fisheries, microplastics, policy, pollution, conservation, and restoration all fall into this category. UNE Marine Programs faculty, professional staff, and students are focused on research and solutions across the spectrum of human influence on our seas.

Facilities

UNE offers some of the best research, lab, and classroom facilities in the nation for the study of marine science — including state-of-the-art buildings, a fleet of research vessels, and our own research island — and you can access all of them right from our main campus in Biddeford, Maine.

Take a Virtual Tour of the Marine Science Center