Below are amazing programs, NGOs, and labs around the world that are also on the ground making a difference! Click their logo to go to their page.
Aquaculture Development for the Environment from Walt Smith International: ADE is a nonprofit organization registered in the US and Fiji that enables coral reef conservation and restoration projects within Fiji and around the world. The focus of ADE is to fund the training and capacity building efforts for local community reef restoration projects and assist in developing ways for future projects to become self-sufficient. The ADE program promotes sustainable management and conservation of global marine ecosystems, develops Aquaculture and Mariculture for the protection of the environment, and contributes to rural communities through training and economic support.
The Marine Breeding Initiative was created as a tool to encourage marine aquaria hobbyists to get involved in the captive breeding of marine organisms. The MBI was designed with the help of leading experts in the breeding of marine ornamentals to be a standardized award system and database that can be easily adopted by aquarium societies and site owners to promote captive breeding amongst their members. There are many pressures on todays tropical reef environments and the practice of captive breeding to reduce the need for wild caught specimens is one way we as hobbyists can reduce those pressures. The MBI creates a standardized model that uses a central database to share information between all MBI sites while rewarding and encouraging hobbyists to begin breeding and existing breeders to tackle more difficult species and try new techniques.
Rising Tide Conservation: Rising Tide Conservation is dedicated to developing and promoting aquaculture of marine ornamental fish species through the collaborative efforts of researchers, public aquaria, hobbyists, pet industry professionals, and conservation groups. Rising Tide is committed to increasing the availability of aquacultured marine ornamental fish species in the aquarium industry in order to reduce the impacts of wild fish collection on fish populations and the coral reefs where they live.
Coral Restoration Foundation: A non-profit ocean conservation organization working to restore reefs, educating others on the importance of our oceans, and using science to further research and monitoring techniques. We develop and implement effective strategies for restoring the coral reefs and empower others to use these methodologies within their own coastal communities to better our ocean.
REEF conserves marine environments worldwide. Our mission is to protect biodiversity and ocean life by actively engaging and inspiring the public through citizen science, education, and partnerships with the scientific community.
Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute (HSWRI) is a non-profit scientific research organization committed to conserving and renewing marine life to ensure a healthier planet. Our team of experts provides innovative and objective scientific solutions to challenges threatening ocean health and marine life in our rapidly changing world.
The Coral Reef Aquarium Fisheries Campaign is a multi-institutional initiative whose goal is to empower sustainable marine aquarium fisheries that support biodiversity conservation, healthy coral reefs, and the livelihoods of fishers, traders, and others who depend on them across the global value chain. The Campaign pursues this goal by: 1) working with source country governments to improve marine aquarium fisheries policy and management; 2) upgrading the value chain—that is, changing the supply-chain paradigm from a volume-driven to a value-driven approach; and 3) developing aquaculture as an alternative source of fish species that are vulnerable to overfishing.
The American Association of Fish Veterinarians (AAFV) is an association of licensed North American Veterinarians who practice fish medicine either as part of their traditional proctice; with or alongside their institutional employment; or as their main species group within their “fish practice”. The website also has a Find a Fish Vet portal which allows you to locate a fish vet near you.
University Programs
Oceanic Institute, an affiliate of Hawai’i Pacific University, is a not-for-profit research and development organization dedicated to marine aquaculture, biotechnology, and coastal resource management. Our mission is to develop and transfer economically responsible technologies to increase aquatic food production while promoting the sustainable use of ocean resources. OI works with community, industry, government and academic partners, and non-governmental organizations to benefit the state, the nation, and the world.
Tropical Aquaculture Laboratory’s mission is to enhance the understanding of tropical, ornamental aquaculture through research and education. The Laboratory performs applied research, fish disease diagnostic services, and extension education programs and promotes professionalism in Florida’s tropical aquaculture industry.
The Aquarium Science Program at the Oregon Coast Community College is a unique career and technical education program created to prepare students for entry employment in the aquatic animal care industry. The program’s one-of-a-kind curriculum offers hands-on activities and practical experiences through traditional classroom and laboratory settings along with on-the-job training opportunities through practicums and internships. Faculty and staff within the program along with regional and national professional partners have numerous years of experience within the aquarium science industry to help deliver the curriculum. The program offers a two year Associates of Applied Science Degree and a one year Certificate of Completion as options for study. Students who successfully complete the program are qualified to begin a career as an aquatic animal care professional (a.k.a “aquarist) at public aquariums and zoos, aquaculture facilities, research institutions, the ornamental fish trade, and hatcheries.
Davidson County Community College’s Zoo and Aquarium Science Program is a combination of rigorous class work combined with unique learning experiences working at animal partner facilities with extensive co-op experiences over 5 semesters. The Aquarium Science Technology curriculum prepares students for employment in public aquaria, or other settings requiring aquatic animal care, breeding, education/conservation, or health of exotic animals in public and commercial settings.