Seafood Industry Partnerships in Schools
The Seafood Industry Partnerships in Schools (SIPS) project is an exciting new initiative from OceanWatch Australia in partnership with the Tasmanian Seafood Industry Council and Department of Education, made possible by funding from the Fisheries Research Development Corporation. The project consists of two program streams: Adopt a Fishing Boat and Adopt a Marine Farm. Under each program, educational partnerships are created between Yr 1- 10 classes and a fisher or marine farmer.
The project is a collaborative effort between the fishing industry and educators. It enables students to learn that the fishing industry is an important part of their community, and gain an understanding of the steps the industry is taking to improve sustainability and meet a variety of environmental challenges. It also enables older students to understand and experience the range of careers available in the seafood industry.
What’s Involved?
Commercial fishermen and marine farmers are partnered with a school class from Year 1-10. Partnerships can be tailored to suit interests, availability and the class room situation. The length of the partnership is negotiable between the fisherman and the class teacher.
Fishermen contribute as their capacity allows. Possible partnership activities include:
- Fisherman visit the class, providing face to face contact
- Students ask questions about day-to-day fishing activities
- Boat or wharf visits by classes or individuals
- Collaboration between the fisherman and the teacher to develop a unit of work or run activities with the class
- Regular at-sea email contact between the fisherman and the class, providing an update of fishing activities.
- Facebook or text message updates
Marine farmers can contribute in the following ways:
- Farm tours
- Hatchery tours
- Processing facility tours
- Class visits and activities
Seafood Industry Partnerships in Schools 3 Key Messages
The seafood industry:
1. recognises and promotes the importance of ecological sustainability and improving its environmental performance;
a) promotes “best practice” to support ecological sustainability, and
b) aspires to improve environmental performance.
2. utilizes a resource on behalf of the whole community, and is an industry which spreads economic benefits across the community;
3. offers career opportunities across a range of occupations.
Awards
The Seafood Industry Partnerships in School pilot project has been widely acknowledged as an outstanding case of promotion of industry locally across different sectors. Part of this recognition was given to the project with the ‘Tasmanian Seafood Industry Promotion’ award at the Tasmanian Seafood Industry Awards in June 2011.
Bryan Denny (Commercial Fisherman), Jennifer Hemer (SIPS Project Officer) and Brad Warren (OceanWatch Australia Executive Chair) collecting the ‘Tasmanian Seafood Industry Promotion’ award.
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