North Harford Receives $3K Aquaculture Grant

BEL AIR, MD - From Harford County Public Schools: Martin Marietta has awarded the Natural Resources and Agricultural Sciences (NRAS) Magnet at North Harford High School a $3,000 grant to support the magnet program’s new Natural Resources Aquaculture Raise and Research project.

Representatives from Martin Marietta presented the check to Gregory Murrell, program
specialist; Nate Epple, NRAS student; and Howard Eakes, assistant supervisor of science for
Harford County Public Schools, at North Harford High School on March 6.

The goal of the project is to design aquaculture educational opportunities for the high school
students in the NRAS program. Aquaculture, which is the business of farming aquatic plants and
animals, is becoming an integral part of the Maryland agricultural economy.

The students will use the items purchased with the grant money to develop a trout run and
breeding tank in the aquaculture research lab. The research lab will be utilized not only by the
NRAS students, but will also be available to biology, chemistry, environmental science, marine
science, and zoology classes at North Harford High School.

North Harford High students participating in aquaculture studies will gain knowledge in
sustainable energy and aquatic plants and animals and participate in laboratory projects that will
help prepare them in pursuing a post-secondary degree in aquaculture.