The United States Trout Farmers Association (USTFA) is seeking speakers and presentation proposals for a special session at Aquaculture America 2027 in Hawaii, focused on workforce development and the future of the trout farming industry.

Titled “Growing the Next Generation: Workforce Development and the Future of Trout Farming,” the session will explore one of the industry’s most important long-term challenges: developing and maintaining a skilled workforce capable of meeting the evolving needs of modern aquaculture operations.

As trout farming continues to incorporate increasingly sophisticated technologies and production practices, producers face growing demands for employees with the right combination of technical knowledge, practical experience, and problem-solving skills. At the same time, attracting younger workers, establishing effective training pathways, and retaining experienced employees remain important challenges for farms of all sizes.

This session will bring together trout producers, educators, researchers, industry professionals, and workforce development specialists to share practical approaches, successful programs, and new ideas for building the next generation of aquaculture professionals.

Potential presentation topics include:

• Industry and Education Partnerships: Building effective partnerships between trout farms, universities, community colleges, and extension programs to develop relevant workforce training opportunities.
• Apprenticeships and Hands-On Training: Developing apprenticeships, internships, and on-the-job training programs that prepare employees for careers in trout farming.
• Recruiting the Next Generation: Reaching younger workers, increasing career awareness, and communicating the opportunities available in aquaculture.
• Technology and Workforce Readiness: Preparing employees for increasingly technical roles involving water quality management, fish health, recirculating aquaculture systems, automation, and data-driven production.
• Employee Retention and Career Development: Identifying effective strategies for retaining employees, developing leadership skills, and creating opportunities for career advancement.
• Practical Solutions for Smaller Farms: Sharing workforce development models and training approaches that smaller and independent trout farming operations can realistically implement.

USTFA welcomes presentations highlighting successful programs, lessons learned, innovative approaches, and practical experiences from across the aquaculture industry. Presentations do not need to focus exclusively on trout production, provided the information and experiences have relevance to trout farmers and the broader aquaculture workforce.

Interested in presenting?

We encourage trout producers, university and community college faculty, extension professionals, researchers, workforce development organizations, and other industry stakeholders to consider contributing to this session.

If you have experience, research, or ideas that could help strengthen the aquaculture workforce and prepare the next generation of trout farming professionals, we want to hear from you.

Please contact the United States Trout Farmers Association to express your interest in presenting and discuss potential presentation topics.

Together, we can help build a stronger, more skilled workforce and ensure a sustainable future for the U.S. trout farming industry.