SUSTAINABLE FISHING FOR SCHOOL STUDENTS
A new educational program developed for schools by the Queensland
Commercial Fishermen's Organisation has recently been trialed in North
Queensland.
Written by Townsville teacher Michele Williams, the year 6/7 classroom
and excursion workbook called From Ocean to Plate is the industry's
first step towards raising awareness of sustainable fishing.
QCFO project officer Tricia Kelman said the language unit is designed
to be part of school environmental studies. The activity sheets were used
for the first time by three Townsville and Cairns schools during organised
excursions jointly staged by the industry and DPI for Primary Industries
Week.
Groups of students visited trawler wharves, processing plants and research
centres during the half day excursions, which the Cairns Regional Economic
Development Corporation's Ecofish group hopes to offer regularly for interested
local schools.
Ms Kelman said the student educational focus was a first for the industry:
"We see it as an important part of raising community awareness of
sustainable fishing - just as a farmer cares for his land to harvest his
crops, we carefully manage our catches to make sure fish stocks are not
under pressure," she said.
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