Bakkafrost brings the fish farm to the classroom in Tarbert
Primary pupils at Tarbert Academy in Argyll and Bute were given the chance to be fish farmers for the day as part of an interactive workshop set up by Bakkafrost Scotland.
The P6 and P7 pupils were able to watch a live feed of fish from their classroom, as well as being shown what personal protection equipment should be worn and getting the chance to get up close to jellyfish and plankton.
The workshop also featured a visit to the classroom by seafood enthusiast and educator Catriona Frankitti, who shared insights into the salmon life cycle, and the health benefits of eating fish, and offered samples for the pupils to taste.
Craig Johnstone, marine site manager in Gigha, who helped organise the interactive workshop, said: “We wanted to organise something for the school’s P6s and P7s to give them a flavour of what it’s like to be a fish farmer.
When I asked the pupils who knew someone who was involved in the seafood industry, pretty much every hand went up
Gigha site manager Craig Johnstone
“We respect the role that salmon farming plays in the remote and rural communities in which we live and work. When I asked them who knew someone who was involved in the seafood industry, pretty much every hand went up.
“I think it’s very important we get out into our communities and help educate people about what it is we do. We work in a sector that helps enable people to stay in the rural communities they have grown up in by providing employment opportunities. It’s also an investment in our potential future workforce – we look forward to welcoming some of these budding fish farmers to the team in the future.”
Bakkafrost Scotland has a team of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) ambassadors who regularly visit schools to inspire the next generation, showcasing the wide range of roles and opportunities available across the aquaculture sector.
