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I also think it would be a great idea as it could be a whole school initiative. Getting guest speakers in to share their expertise. Cross curricular opportunities are endless. It also aligns with pupils led learning in the new curriculum. Children can be enabled to research and collaborate.
Aquaculture plays an important role in Ireland’s coastal economy, and the location of fish and shellfish farms is a key factor in their success. Most aquaculture farms are located along the west, south-west, and north-west coasts, where the clean Atlantic waters, sheltered bays, and suitable environmental conditions support species such as salmon, oysters, and mussels. These locations allow farms to produce high-quality seafood while making the most of Ireland’s rich marine resources.
From a socio-economic perspective, aquaculture provides valuable employment opportunities in many rural coastal communities where other industries may be limited. Unfortunately, many of these areas rely heavily on tourism, which can be seasonal and unpredictable. It would be wonderful to have another sustainable industry that provides year-round employment and supports local families. Aquaculture creates direct jobs in farming, harvesting, processing, and transport, while also benefiting local businesses such as equipment suppliers, restaurants, and tourism operators. The industry helps sustain populations in remote areas by providing stable incomes and encouraging younger people to remain in their communities rather than relocating elsewhere for work.
As future primary school teachers, I think we have an important role in helping children understand where their food comes from and how industries such as aquaculture contribute to their local communities. Learning about aquaculture can be linked to subjects such as Geography, Science, and Social, Environmental and Scientific Education (SESE). Children could explore the importance of protecting marine ecosystems, investigate the different species farmed in Ireland, and examine how sustainable food production supports both the environment and the economy. If schools are located near coastal communities, visits from local aquaculture producers or field trips to aquaculture sites could provide meaningful real-world learning experiences. These opportunities can help children appreciate the value of their local environment while also introducing them to future career possibilities within the blue economy.
I believe the expansion of aquaculture should always be balanced with environmental protection. Responsible site selection, careful monitoring of water quality, and sustainable farming practices are essential to protect marine ecosystems and maintain public confidence in the industry. When managed effectively, aquaculture can successfully coexist with fishing, tourism, and conservation.
Overall, I think aquaculture has significant potential to strengthen Ireland’s coastal communities. It not only contributes to economic growth but also supports local traditions, food security, and regional development. By combining sustainable practices with community involvement, Ireland can continue to develop a thriving aquaculture sector that benefits both people and the environment. As educators, we can inspire children to value sustainable industries, care for Ireland’s marine environment, and recognise the important role aquaculture plays in supporting coastal communities for future generations.
I also agree with that sentiment. It would be brilliant for the children to even engage in debate style discussions where they can come up with the pros and cons. By working together and being reflective it would allow them to see and understand various viewpoints.
I agree Orla. How fabulous would it be for someone to look at the local potential of aquaculture. As no industries are in the area it would be great to get some expertise in and show us what can be done with vision and investment. It could crate pathways for many future generation for a sustainable source of employment
I really like the idea of getting the children to learn about Aquaculture. As someone who grew up near the Shannon Estuary I really see how it’s potential is underutilised. We have some of the best seafood off our coastline and why not cultivate more our own rather than importing. We need to use these opportunities for more sustainable practices. For children to see it could be a viable way of making a living and being able to live in their locality when older is so important. The remote classroom would be an invaluable resource to come to schools as it would bring the learning to life. The videos are invaluable but also taking pictures of our own area ourselves might potentially help them to realise what is in our own area and that we don’t have to travel to other places when we have it on our own doorstep. Getting the children to investigate what potential we have in relation to aquaculture such as salmon and mussels to name a few.
Sustainability is key to using resources responsibly in the world we live today. The three pillars such as environmental, social and economic are all what we need to consider when going about our daily lives. Every small change counts. In my school our student council have been looking at the area of food packaging and trying to eliminate as much plastics and non recyclable products. Over the course of a coupe of weeks the mindset had changed and lunch boxes, brown paper bags and reusable drink bottle were used instead of tin-foil, cling film and and plastic bottles. Teaching this message had a huge impact on the school and certainly cut back on filling up the waste bins. Data was collected and shown to the various classes to see the improvements that had been made.
In my local area it is great to see the growing of plants that encourage bees in land which wouldn’t be used for agriculture etc. Considering how the world temperature could rise by 1.5 degrees by 2100 it is imperative we look at ways to combat this. The habitats directives should be explained to children in a child friendly manner how some species could be potentially in danger and have the same fate as the dodo bird. We can be sustainable by making better choices in relation to our power, water and food usage.
Using aquaculture sites for shellfish, seaweed production and salmon farming could lead to great advances such as biofuel and contribute to less waste in these areas. As an Ireland it is bizarre to think 98%of all seaweed production comes from Asia. Surly more industries could be supported to develop new products etc.
I think we can try and promote looking at food labels etc and being more sustainable in our choices. Could be something the student council and parents association could also take on board. Climate change is happening and we need to act. Being more conscious in a school setting in areas such as recycling, turning off lights etc and reducing our food waste can help the children be advocates in their own homes and communities.
Isobel I think the idea of community gardens are fantastic. It can bring a sense of community and togetherness to an area. Getting children involved also will hopefully in turn help them to be more sustainable in their choices going forward. Using recycled materials to create artwork is also a super initiative which should be rolled out across the country.
The nutrition of seafood was a really interesting module. Its important to highlight how important it is in our diets. Seafood contains complete proteins. In athletes it aids muscle repair. The HSE leaflets on healthy food for life and healthy eating are are very informative as they provide meal plans and information on portion size. The food pyramid is also very useful and interactive. We need to teach children of how beneficial seafood is in our diets. It is rich in Vitamin A,B and D. It also contains minerals such as zinc, calcium, magnesium and potassium. It was also interesting to note that oysters contain high levels of iron comparable to red meat. Shellfish heme iron is more easily absorbed than non heme found in plants. Omega 3 found in salmon stores oil in the muscles. They are important for cardiovascular health in adults and vision/ brain development in children.
Playing games such as I spy in the supermarket with children will get them to be more aware of the nutrition value of food and also to be aware of the importance of sourcing locally grown seafood. Great to see supermarkets such as Supervalu own brand products are very good in labelling whether the fish is affiliated with MSC or ASC.
The consumption of seafood in the 70s was 11kg pp and now it is 23kg which is still far behind that of Portugal which is at 55kg pp per year.
The seafood nutrition handbook from BIM is also useful to look at the various seafoods and determine their nutritional value.
I also like this idea Danielle. Unfortunately with so many children with various allergies etc it will be important to have the parents on board. The message of from sea to the table with very little processing in between is something we should all be trying to factor into our diets. Getting the children involved in what they eat and be mindful of these choices can only be a positive thing.
The ARC online lessons and resources are a great way to get children thinking about aquaculture especially in areas far away from the coastline. It makes it more accessible to all children bringing the sea to them. The lessons are very child friendly and interactive and I could see the children really engaging in them. They are hands on and age appropriate. The children will have a chance to see local coastal industries , promote awareness and in the future could be a career path for them. The lessons are fully immersive and curriculum aligned which is hugely beneficial. Lovely use of visuals so the children can embed what they are learning. The quiz will also give them the opportunity to test their knowledge. Some very interesting points of information and one in particular was that there is more farmed salmon eaten globally than beef. I really would have thought this is the opposite. We need to see the importance of investing in aquaculture and we do in our agriculture. Prioritising this as part of our STEM policy means that schools have access to a wealth of resources and information. The scope is endless in the area and the potential for integration across subjects is huge.
Patrice, I also agree that the amount of opportunities to engage in cross curricular are endless. Data collection lessons would be so meaningful as the children would be use current data to compile various graphs. It may also inspire some children to dig deeper and investigate more about our coastlines, rivers and lakes. Students will become critical thinkers and the use of IT will help them research and explore further.
By having ARC part of a STEM policy it will provide teachers with the confidence and skills to cover this content with the students.
Aquaculture is well suited to the west coast of Ireland due to the variety of species. As someone who has grown up near the Shannon Estuary, I feel it has been an area that hasn’t been explored to its fullest potential and is rich in mussels and oysters. There are also a number of islands which would also provide some shelter.
It would really benefit these local areas and generate another form of employment other than agriculture. Tourism would also improve if education was provided near these sites. It would also give the local people a sense of pride in their local area and promote it to the fullest.
The estuary in particular around the islands would be certainly a place where expansion into sustainable shellfish production would reap great benefits in the promotion of aquaculture in the west coast.
Marie , I agree with the points you made in particular to how communities can be revitalised by creating more opportunities to explore aquaculture. Having employment opportunities like this will encourage more people to move into these areas and upskill potentially in a different sector.
Yes Lyndsy totally agree the opportunities for a multi-sensory experience to educate children. It just shows that we don’t need to be in specific locations in order to acquire this information. Children need an awareness of the importance of our seas and rivers and how we must ensure they are protected.
This module was very informative. As a teacher in the senior classes for the past few years the ARC classroom looks so exciting. Being able to explore aquaculture in a setting outside of the classroom especially in an urban setting is very exciting. It looks so interactive and would certainly stimulate the minds of the children. We need to capture the minds of children not just in coastal/rural areas. I also learned of the role of BIM in educating children about all things in relation to aquaculture. I will certainly look into getting a speaker to come to the school at some stage if possible.
We are trying to encourage children to be critical thinkers. Many curricular areas are linked such as SPHE and Science. The young chef ambassador programme is a superb way for children to get to explore various food which can be found in our seas. Th life cycle of the salmon is also very interesting. The children would be aware of the life cycle of the frog and butterfly for example maybe its time to look at our rivers, lakes and oceans too for life cycles.
I would hope by giving the children the opportunity to study something different such as aquaculture it would cause them to be inquisitive about the world around them especially our marine life.