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Great point Claire. It’s only as I do this course I am seeing the value of aquaculture particularly in small coastal areas. Keeping smaller local communities as a viable option for workers to stay in the locality is imperative. These communities have so much to offer and they can become vibrant hubs again for locals to live and work.
I have never considered how aquaculture contributes to coastal communities. It provides valuable employment in rural and island areas, helping to sustain local populations, support families, and contribute to the economy of the communities where population decline or limited economic growth are major concerns. Businesses in the locality also benefit e.g. transport companies, suppliers, restaurants and tour operators. These communities can thrive on the many different types of employment created.
Living near the coast I have often thought that salmon farms etc were not the most attractive visually. I had never considered the contribution they were making to the local communities. I can also understand the importance of engaging with the local community to build trust. The economic benefits of successful aquaculture must be balanced with environmental protection and local community interests with coastal communities having strong connections to their local environments.
I believe I have developed a greater understanding of aquaculture and its potential to make a positive contribution to coastal communities. It helps to provide employment, support the local economy, promote the production of locally sustainable food while respecting the needs of the environment and the local community.
I also work in the beautiful County of Donegal with access to lovely beaches. It is such a shame that children are unaware of what is right there in their own locality. There is quite a lot of oyster farming in the vicinity providing vital employment and we are also not far from a busy fishing port. It is important for the children to see what can be offered in terms of future employment and to develop an appreciation of what is on their own doorstep.
I will be teaching as SET this school year and wanted to do a completely different course but one that I could also make use of in my setting. I would be hopeful that the pupils could be afforded opportunities to explore water, aquatic animals, shells, seaweed, and related materials through hands-on activities. It would create opportunities to build vocabulary, learn about living things, understand where food comes from and develop responsibility through caring for living organisms.
While social licence is a complex concept, the pupils can explore it through the notion of fairness, caring for the environment, and listening to others. They can learn that people may have different opinions about a topic, that everyone has a voice when making decisions, that people have different concerns and priorities but that everyone is listened to in the decision-making process.
Our school was very lucky to have the ARC at the school this year and the 5th and 6th class pupils had a wonderful experience. The school is in a beautiful part of the country with access to the coast and many of the pupils learned so much from the facilitators. Many of the pupils are not aware of what is on their own doorstep and the industry that is thriving nearby and in local fishing ports.