SWAN QUARTER — Mattamuskeet Early College High School students got a crash course in two of Hyde County’s main industries — aquaculture and seafood.

As part of the North Carolina Science Festival activities happening statewide, the school welcomed experts from the two industries to talk with students and participate in hands-on activities, according to a press release.

Students were also able to travel to Mattamuskeet Seafood to see the inner workings of the wholesale company in Swan Quarter.

Jane Harrison, a coastal economist with N.C. Sea Grant, organized the event with the help of internal funding awarded to encourage educational opportunities for the aquaculture and seafood industries, the release stated.

N.C. Sea Grant provides research and education for the issues facing the state’s coast and its surrounding communities.

Jennifer Cahoon, an Ag sciences and biology teacher at MECHS, said she was excited for the industry experts to come talk to the students.

“Fishing and aquaculture are two of our main incomes in the community, but many of our students don’t know much about the business end of things, or they do know about it and feel that it is not relevant in their education or as a career choice,” she said.

Some of the presenters included: Chuck Weirich, a marine aquaculture extension specialist for Sea Grant; Dave Cerino, an aquaculture coordinator for Carteret Community College; and Sherrie Carawan, of Mattamuskeet Seafood, as well as representatives from Hyde County Cooperative Extension, Hyde County Office of Planning and Economic Development, Hyde County Soil and Water Conservation District, N.C. Coastal Federation and Outer Banks Catch, according to the release.

“The students actually learned about the different businesses in their community,” Cahoon said. “They learned how important this industry is to where they live and how it can affect their well-being economically.”