Students build a business in fish

GROTON, Conn. (WTNH) -- It's not every day students find themselves measuring rainbow trout. Then again it's not everyday a class project turns into big business.

"The rainbow trout we're processing them first because they don't have the spikes on the dorsal fin," said sophomore Kate Green. "So they're a little easier to handle."

This fish story begins last year when students at the Marine Sciences Magnet High School in Groton began to raise trout and tilapia in environmentally controlled tanks. Then they decided to try to sell them to a wholesaler.

"To see the kids get excited and the civics aspect of how a bill becomes a law, go up to the capital, be able to testify and now the bill is passed by the Governor and now we're here today. It's very exciting," said Dr. Nicholas Spera, Principal.

It's is a learning experience all around. Not only are the students learning how to raise the fish, but also how to handle them, as they are slippery when wet.

Sen. Andrew Maynard who helped push the bill through also helped out Monday.

"I have a lot of training up at the capital, the fish are only a little slipperier than some of my colleagues," said Sen. Maynard.

He kids of course.

Grossman's Seafood says it usually can only get tilapia from overseas.

"I just thought what a great idea to go from tank to table and have a local product, especially with the kids," said Sean Coleman, Grossman's Seafood.

"All our hard work has finally paid off," said Green.

The students are already expanding their product line, striped bass and oysters are next. All profits go back into the tanks.