Aquaculture CDE Competition Rules
Rules and Procedures
- Aquaculture is one of the fastest growing sectors of agriculture. Through this
event students will have an opportunity to participate in completing tasks integral to
most aquaculture operations and to prepare the final products.
- The aquaculture CDE consists of several tasks completed on a daily basis at
aquaculture farms. Tasks include water quality testing, weighing fish and determining feed
amounts, basic plumbing, harvesting, filleting and packaging fillets, identification of
common species and a written exam covering basic principles.
- To test the students ability to:
- Use and understand aquaculture terms
- Identify important species in the aquaculture industry
- Recognize and use basic aquaculture equipment and instruments
- Correctly determine feeds and feeding ratios
- Process fish according to industry standards. To promote career choice in aquacultural
- Competencies Addressed
- Classify fish, shellfish and crustacea in the aquaculture
industry according to common name, scientific classification, habitat (warm/cold/salt
water, pelagic, demersal, etc.), feeding habits and status (endangered, common, native,
- Cut, thread and assemble common materials utilized in the
- To test water for dissolved oxygen, pH, ammonia and tank inflow
in liters per minute.
- To weigh fish and determine the correct feeding ratio for a
- To fillet fish and/or process and package in the round.
- Describe and identify management practices, diseases, equipment,
facilities and production methods in the aquaculture industry.
- General Rules
- Each team will consist of four members.
- The contest will consist of three parts:
- Written exam
- Species identification exam
- Practicums (one practicum for each team member) The team score will consist of the sum
of all four contestants individual scores. All contestants are expected to be in full
official FFA dress covered by lab jackets.
- Additional materials contestants may bring:
- Water testing equipment
- Filleting knives
- The written exam will consist of a 50 question test. 30 minutes will be allowed for
written exam. Questions for written exam will be developed by the state aquaculture
extension specialist, or from the aquaculture curriculum developed by The Council for
Agriculture Education or from "Aquaculture" available from the Mid American
Vocational Curriculum Consortium, Inc., 1500 West Seventh, Stillwater, Oklahoma
- Species identification. 30 minutes will be allowed for species identification. 20
species will be selected randomly from a list of 65. Team members will identify the
selected species by common name, scientific name, habitat, feeding habits and status. Fish
will come from the University of Arizona Fish Collection or from Arizona Game and Fish
Educational Resources, (contact Kelly Burgett, Environmental Education Administrative
Assistant. 2221 W. Greenway Road, Phoenix, Arizona 85023, phone (602) 789-3220, also
library and internet references are suggested.
- Practicums each team member will select one practicum. Students will have 30
minutes to complete the practicum. The practicums should be selected in advance from the
- Cutting, threading and assembling common materials used in the aquaculture industry.
(See detailed plans contained within.)
- Processing tilapia filets and/or trout in the round. (See attached score sheet.)
- Testing of tank water for dissolved oxygen, pH, ammonia load and liters per minute
inflow (See attached score sheet.).
- Given three fish to weigh and a tank consisting of 400 fish, to determine the correct
feeding ratio based on 2% of biomass.
- The team score will consist of the sum of all four contestants individual scores
from the following areas:
- Written exam (100 points) - 50 questions.
- Species identification (100 points) - 20 species will be selected randomly from a list
of 65. For each species, 1 point will be assigned for each of the following: common name,
scientific name, habitat, feeding habits and status.
- Practicum (100 points) - Ties will be broken from written exam score.
- The Council for Agriculture Education "Aquaculture Curriculum
- "Aquaculture" available from the Mid American Vocational Curriculum
Consortium, Inc., 1500 West Seventh, Stillwater, Oklahoma 74074-4364 .
- Arizona Aquaculture Web Site: http://ag.arizona.edu/azaqua/
To view a sample test click HERE
To look at past CDE competition pictures click HERE