Eva Bartush , the Marine Science Academy Coordinator and lead instructor , described the program ’ s various species of fish ( which I found to be just as curious about me staring at them in their fish aquariums ) and explained how the program has grown since it ’ s inception in 2018 .
Ms Bartush explained that at first the program leaned towards marine biology and then has evolved to also include marine service technology . “ The students will be prepared to seek careers in the direction of marine engineering or transportation industry or marine service technology .”
She went on to describe the group ’ s work with local aquatic wildlife .
“ The big round tanks are Long Island Sound Tanks ,” Ms Bartush said . “ They are filled with species found right here in Long Island Sound that students and teachers collect as part of our program . We have a special eductors perrmit to keep species . We have porgies , blackfish , black sea bass , sriped bass , oysters , toad fish , green crabs and eels in those tanks .
Eva Bartush , Department Chair of Marine Sciences at Norwalk ’ s Brien McMahon High School .
“ All of our tanks are maintained by the students in the Marine Science Academy ,” Ms Bartush added . “ The smaller tanks are student-designed ones that are mostly freshwater species . We do have a tropical puffer fish tank and clown fish tanks and a few Long Island Sound tanks that have hermit crabs and some minnows too . Students learn about a wide variety of marine ecosystems in our program and the tanks act as mini ecosystems in the classroom .”
28 OVER THE BOW USCGAUX FIRST DISTRICT SOUTHERN REGION - WINTER 2023