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Hi Emma,
Thank you for that response.
You made some excellent points on the role of aquaculture in rural communities. I liked the term a ‘modern twist on coastal living’ some of the innovations in todays aquaculture industry are huge milestones compared to the original technology.
Aquaculture creates opportunities in rural areas that allow them to connect with a huge network of organisations, it also creates employment both directly (scuba divers, farmers, skippers/boat captains) and indirectly (fishmongers/ factory workers/ hospitality staff) for all ages. As you mentioned it also increases local spending contributing to the growth of areas, creating employment at a range of different levels.
The aquaculture industry can help with revitalising rural communities, boosting village populations and in some cases contributing to job opportunities and student numbers within schools
Bláthnaid
Hi Emma,
Thank you for that response.
You made some excellent points on the role of aquaculture in rural communities. I liked the term a ‘modern twist on coastal living’ some of the innovations in todays aquaculture industry are huge milestones compared to the original technology.
Aquaculture creates opportunities in rural areas that allow them to connect with a huge network of organisations, it also creates employment both directly (scuba divers, farmers, skippers/boat captains) and indirectly (fishmongers/ factory workers/ hospitality staff) for all ages. As you mentioned it also increases local spending contributing to the growth of areas, creating employment at a range of different levels.
The aquaculture industry can help with revitalising rural communities, boosting village populations and in some cases contributing to job opportunities and student numbers within schools
Bláthnaid
Hi Michelle,
It is great to see that your local community is taking steps to achieve more sustainable practices. The “walk to school” campaigns are a great way of incorporating physical health to environmental awareness! I also like that you mentioned the grow & buy local schemes, sustainable farming & the circular economy is becoming more and more popular worldwide.
Guided walks are a brilliant activity, you can find biodiversity leaflets online from sources (The National Biodiversity Council) which are excellent tools when teaching students about Irish wildlife, using journals and sketch pads on these walks helps the students engage closely with the content.
I also totally agree with inviting guest speakers from local environmental organisations, this is always an enjoyable experience for schools, it also helps connect the students to biodiversity in their local area.
Other activities include using recycling material for eco friendly insect shelters on the school grounds, creating artistic comic strips on how to achieve the 17 sustainable development goals!
Bláthnaid
Hi Michelle,
Great response to module 1.
You made multiple important points in your post, social license is incredibly important to society, if this can be explained to the students at a young age, it can be incredibly helpful later down the line when they are making decisions which impact others.
As you said, aquaculture can be linked to a variety of school subjects, introducing students to an often overlooked industry, opens up possible future career pathways. I completely agree that the concept of aquaculture and the ARC itself is a great resource for landlocked & coastal counties alike (some of our farms/hatcheries are also inland facilities). Everyone in the country deserves to learn about this fascinating industry!
Bláthnaid
Hi Michaela,
Thank you for your brilliant response to module 5!
It’s great to hear that your local area engages in a multitude of sustainability based initiatives such as the clean up campaigns & wildflower projects. Each of these allows the students to participate outside of the classroom.
You have some fantastic ideas for encouraging sustainability within the class, I especially liked the “green ambassador” system which would create a positive association between the students and sustainable practices. Other ideas might be; using recycled wood to create eco / insect shelters, nearby (or even school yard!) nature walks in which the children compete to identify the most flower/insect species, guides on species diversity can be found online from a variety of sources.
Bláthnaid
Hi Barbara,
Thank you for your response to module 4!
Introducing the seafood handbook to teachers is a great educational tool, a fantastic resource which provides a wealth of information on the nutritional value of different species.
Your ‘eye spy in the supermarket’ activity is a brilliant initiative, I think this is a fantastic way of teaching students to think about what exactly they are eating, where their food comes from and if it is sustainably sourced. Activities such as ‘create your own food label’ can introduce the meaning behind different food labels they see in the supermarket (Origin Green, Marine Stewardship Council, Organic etc.). Even better, activities like these can help them learn more about the 17 SDG’s (Sustainable Development Goals).
Hi Emma,
Thank you for those great ideas! Each of the activities you mentioned are fantastic ways to incorporate STEM education in the classroom. I especially liked the Salmon concepts, another idea is educating the children on ‘salmon bridges/fishes passages; eco friendly bridges for migrating fish! Allowing the children to create their own creative bridges for migrating fish; an eco friendly educational activity!
I completely agree that aquaculture can be integrated into subjects quite easily through the lessons you mentioned!
Hi Sarah,
Brilliant response! I agree, aquaculture farms are mainly located along our coasts, with a few freshwater species exceptions. I am glad you mentioned depopulation, when young people leave rural areas in search of better job opportunities, aquaculture is a fantastic resource available to communities facing this issue. Aquaculture allows people to stay connected with their local area while also expanding connections further.
Geography often works in favor of these rural regions when it comes to aquaculture. Take Connemara, Co. Galway, for example—a rugged landscape with limited agricultural space. Situated on the west coast of Ireland with sheltered bays and Atlantic currents; a perfect location for aquaculture sites. This industry not only supports direct employment but also generates indirect job opportunities, creating more prospects for young people to live and work in their home communities.
Your last few sentences summed up aquaculture in these areas quite nicely, helping both the people and the area, providing a network of opportunities while also adapting sustainable farming practices.
Hi Delores,
Thank you for your brilliant post! I appreciate your thoughts on the topic of sustainability, you mentioned a variety of methods for promoting both sustainability at sea and sustainability within your school.
Sustainability truly matters to towns such as Killybegs, a town with a deep connection to the ocean. When working withe ocean, fishermen & aquaculture farmers know the importance of sustainability, making a living from the sea goes hand in hand with protecting it.
Within your response you mentioned the possibility of a guest speaker (possibly a marine biologist/local fisherman/marine tourism guide), I strongly encourage this! giving students the opportunity to connect and learn about sustainability in the ocean from a local is invaluable. The information tends to resonate deeply with young people when provided by a local, there are many marine local groups performing biodiversity surveys, fishing efforts and conservation schemes (such as lobster V-notching) which would make for a fascinating guest speaker!
I couldn’t agree more with your idea of celebrating sustainability during the school assembly, this is a great way of crafting a positive association between the students and sustainability, making eco-conscious tasks more exciting, both during school and outside of it!
Bláthnaid
Hi Andrea,
I found your response very interesting & informative. I agree that connecting students to nutrition in the classroom through engaging activities helps in promoting a healthy lifestyle & food conscious choices at home.
I am glad you mentioned ‘sustainability’, with raising students awareness of produce labels, they can understand the connection between the food on their plate and the wider world! Activities such as; ‘Eye Spy in the Supermarket’ can help them understand the critical connection between their food choices, good nutrition and sustainability.
Bláthnaid
Hi Dolores,
Brilliant forum post! You made some excellent points, the west coast of Ireland provides an abundance of sheltered inlets and bays, meaning that aquaculture can thrive in these rural areas. I think you described the socio-economic contribution of aquaculture quite well with the term ‘lifeline’, an industry which provides huge support to communities, offering a social outlet, career pathways, while also preserving Irish culture and connection to the ocean.
An industry which supports rural Irish communities both directly and indirectly.
Bláthnaid