¹ú²úÍøºì¸£ÀûÒ»Çø

Aquaculture and Aquarium Science at the Wet Lab

Headed by Dr. Andy Rhyne, the Wet Lab program and its facilities play a large role in the Aquaculture and Aquarium Science Major and Minor degrees offered at RWU.

The Wet Lab at RWU works towards goals in taking care of, rearing, and researching different aquatic species that are born and raised through the lab. Students can volunteer or work through granted work study in the lab and learn how to care for the animals, as well as learn how aquarium systems work.

Students can learn how to specialize in different aquatic species care including husbandry, shrimp, larval rearing, copepods, reef care, and more.

The Wet Lab offers partnership programs, notably the Audubon Society of RI and The New England Aquarium.

Research Initiatives

Main research initiatives include:

• ​Research and development of culture techniques and systems
• Broodstock and larval nutrition
• Live feed culture
• Cost-effective larval rearing systems
• Small-scale commercial production of marine ornamentals
• Exposure to a holistic view of the aquarium industry, trade sustainability and socio-economic implications

The Wet Lab: Current Projects

We maintain research partnerships with a variety of public and private organizations committed to the conservation and sustainability of our natural resources, including The New England Aquarium, The Audubon Society of Rhode Island, and Fundacion Grupo Puntacana.

New England Aquarium Partnership

In 2008, RWU entered into a formal research partnership with the New England Aquarium (NEAq) and formed the Aquarium Sustainability Program.

The Aquarium Sustainability Program conducts solution-based research to improve the sustainability of the public and home aquarium industries and contribute toward conservation by improving wild capture fisheries, developing and improving aquaculture techniques for ornamental species, and creating an atmosphere where aquariums can be a force for conservation initiatives. 

Nov. 6, 2025
Blue Magazine, New England Aquarium

Oct. 31, 2022
New England Aquarium

The following are projects within the scope of the Aquarium Sustainability Program:

The Larval Culture Project

The aim of the Larval Culture Project is to reduce the need for public aquariums to collect exhibit animals from the wild. A healthy and well-managed public aquarium naturally conditions fishes to reproduce on exhibit. This project capitalizes on natural breeding behavior by increasing the capability of public aquariums to produce fishes from the broodstock within their current collections. Funded by the Institution for Museum and Library Services, the Larval Culture Project has trained personnel from 18 public aquariums in fish rearing techniques and provided each institution with a modular culture system. Project training workshops are currently being transitioned into an AZA continuing education program. Additional funding is being sourced for the development of additional specialty workshops—e.g., live food production, etc. Recent successes for the Larval Culture Project include the breeding of blue reef chromis (Chromis cyaneus), copper sweeper (Pempheris schomburgkii), lookdown (Selene vomer), and smallmouth grunt (Haemulon chrysargyreum).

Current Larval Culture Partners

Adventure Aquarium, California Academy of Sciences Steinhart Aquarium, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Hubbs Sea World Research Center, Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific, Monterey Bay Aquarium, Mystic Aquarium, North Carolina Aquarium (Fort Fisher and Pine Knoll Shores), Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium, Sea Life Center Kansas, Seaworld (San Diego and San Antonio), The Aquarium at Moody Gardens, The Maritime Aquarium, Toledo Zoo.

Over 40 countries produce ornamental fishes and invertebrates through fisheries and/or aquaculture. A comprehensive understanding of trade flow is limited as a result of poor data collection and analysis. For example: only CITES-listed species are obliged to be identified on shipping invoices. This project has developed a tool to capture species-specific, invoice-based volume and price data and retrospectively assessed five years of US importation data (). The Aquarium Biodiversity & Trade Flow Database Project is currently undertaking a real-time assessment of ornamental fish export data from the Philippine trade.

Current Aquarium Biodiversity & Trade Flow Database Project Partners

Philippines Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, with funding from NFWF and NOAA International Coral Program

Cyanide Detection Project

Cyanide is used by some collectors to anesthetize wild marine fishes, making them easier to capture. This technique has grave repercussions for marine ecosystems as well as the fishes collected; often killing the fishes, as well as living corals and invertebrates exposed to the cyanide. Cyanide can even enter the food fish system. A technique to determine if fishes have been collected using cyanide is currently under development and will be implemented in conjunction with a "cyanide-free fish" certification initiative.

Current Cyanide Detection Partners

Olazul

Audubon Society of Rhode Island’s Nature Center and Aquarium

In 2011, RWU partnered with the Audubon Society of Rhode Island to revamp the five aquatic exhibits at the Environmental Education Center in Bristol, RI.

RWU students worked on the 12-month renovation project and now maintain the exhibits on a weekly basis, getting exposure to state-of-the-art exhibits and filtration including a 2,000 gallon Bay & Ocean exhibit.