Rockville High Opens $1.7M Aquaculture Lab to Train the Next Generation of Scientists

Rockville High opens $1.7M aquaculture lab to expand career-ready science education

Leah Mocko, a science teacher at Rockville High School, spent two years planning, designing and launching a $1.7 million aquaculture laboratory that now anchors the school’s regional Agriculture Science And Technology Education (ASTE) program. Funded by a state grant, the facility aims to give students hands-on experience in aquaculture and introduce them to career pathways in a fast-growing industry.

The new center complements Rockville’s existing animal and plant science offerings. The ASTE program operates as a regional vocational track serving students from Bolton, East Windsor, Ellington, Manchester, Somers, South Windsor, Stafford, Tolland, Union and Vernon.

Mocko, who grew up near the shoreline by Mystic and previously led a similar program in Suffield, said Rockville officials asked her to establish an expanded aquaculture program locally. The project required roughly one year of planning and another year of construction before the lab opened.

What is aquaculture? Aquaculture is the farming of aquatic organisms — including fish, shellfish and aquatic plants — in controlled freshwater and saltwater systems. It involves breeding, rearing and harvesting animals and plants for commercial, recreational and conservation purposes, Mocko explained.

Previously, the district’s aquaculture coursework was housed in the program’s mechanic shop and was limited in scope. The dedicated building now broadens the curriculum and offers meaningful hands-on learning opportunities.

"It’s been a blessing to be given this opportunity. I built a space I get to teach in every day," Mocko said. "Designing the tanks, choosing sizes and selecting species was a really fun process. I wanted a mix of cold-water, tropical and freshwater species so students could study diverse systems up close."

The facility is roughly half classroom and half laboratory. The lab contains about 20 tanks, ranging from one-gallon goldfish tanks to 500-gallon industry-style production systems suitable for species such as tilapia. Students work with a variety of animals including goldfish, tetras, African bullfrogs, slider turtles and saltwater tropicals such as clownfish. The building also houses two freshwater stingrays (Neville and Luna), several frog species, two large tortoises and numerous aquatic plants. Mocko plans to add more saltwater animals, such as sea anemones, urchins and sea stars, to align classroom lessons with lab observations.

Industry context: Aquaculture is a fast-expanding global industry. Global fisheries and aquaculture production reached a record 223 million tons in 2022, with aquaculture contributing about 94 million tons. The global aquaculture market was valued at approximately $204 billion in 2020 and is projected to grow to around $262 billion by 2026, according to United Nations food and agriculture data.

Mocko noted local opportunities in Connecticut, including growing demand for shellfish and kelp farming. She also teaches entrepreneurial skills — for example, breeding ornamental fish at home can become a profitable side business for students who learn how to market rare varieties.

ASTE department head Erika Bahler called the new lab a major step forward for the program: "It’s a pathway we would like to continue to grow. We find many students are interested in marine biology and aquaculture." Moving equipment out of the mechanic shop will allow both the mechanics and aquaculture tracks to expand.

The ASTE curriculum offers career-focused instruction in animal science, agricultural mechanics, plant science and biotechnology, and hosts a local chapter of the National FFA Organization for leadership and community service. Freshmen take exploratory classes and choose a concentration as sophomores; aquaculture is a significant part of the natural resources pathway, Principal Jason Magao said.

Connecticut has 21 agricultural education centers statewide, most offering some form of aquaculture. With its new lab and classroom space, Rockville’s aquaculture program is now among the largest in the state, Magao said. The ASTE program currently enrolls 165 students — nearly double the enrollment from a decade ago.

Rockville High School will host an open house on Nov. 6 where prospective students and families can tour the facility and learn about ASTE pathway programs. "This center represents more than just tanks and equipment — it’s a living classroom where students will explore marine biology, environmental stewardship and sustainable food systems," Magao said. "It’s a place where passion meets purpose."

For more information, contact the ASTE department at Rockville High School or email reporter Stephen Underwood at sunderwood@courant.com.