The concept of establishing an aquaculture school in Bridgeport was the result of years of collaboration among regional educators, local legislators and statewide advisory committee members. These efforts resulted in a Special Act of the Legislature which provided for the construction of this highly technological facility. In 1988 and again in 1989, the Bridgeport Board of Education applied for and received two competitive grants totaling $100,000. Also, in 1989, a Special Act of the State Legislature approved $20,000 for supplies in support of the Bridgeport Aquaculture Pilot Project. The Connecticut State Board of Education approved the Bridgeport Board of Education's request to be designated as a Regional Vocational Aquaculture School on April 5, 1989. Testimony in support of the Aquaculture school, presented in a collaborative effort by the Connecticut Sea Grant Program as well as commercial and recreational marine industries, focused upon the need to develop marketable skills for students. A site selection report identified Captain's Cove Seaport as a logical site for a program of this type. Thanks to the cooperation of Mr. Kaye Williams, President of Captain's Cove Seaport, Inc., sufficient space was found at the cove and construction plans were finalized. Groundbreaking for the facility took place in December of 1991, and the first classes were held in the new facility in February of 1993. The facility provides students with specialized laboratories and classrooms that compliment the marine-related curriculum of the school. Examples include a Pathology lab, an Aquaculture Finfish/Shellfish lab, an indoor Boat Shop,  Marine Propulsion/Electronics Lab, a Computer-Assisted Design and Drafting Lab, and a Meteorology classroom. The school also contains a modern Telecommunications System capable of several educational functions, including a computer network, a classroom satellite communication system, and a remote visual display system. The school has a 56- foot research vessel named the Catherine Moore. The boat has the capability for classroom instruction, boat navigation and fishing operations to occur simultaneously. The activities aboard the Catherine Moore provide students with the opportunity to conduct Marine Biology, Chemistry, and Ecological experiments. While doing so the students engage in commercial fishing techniques, learn on-board navigation, and Marine Electronic Communication techniques. To compliment the Catherine Moore, the school also has a 25-foot work boat and access to the boats of the Aquaculture Foundation, including the John E. Pfreim and the Black Pearl.