Tarbert Pupils Dive into Fish Farming with Bakkafrost Scotland

Primary pupils at Tarbert Academy in Argyll and Bute enjoyed a unique experience recently, stepping into the shoes of fish farmers thanks to an engaging workshop organized by Bakkafrost Scotland.

An Interactive Learning Experience

During the workshop, P6 and P7 students had the opportunity to observe live feeds of fish directly from their classroom. They witnessed the fascinating feeding rituals of the fish and were educated about the essential personal protective equipment (PPE) required in aquaculture. Additionally, the pupils had a chance to interact with various marine organisms, including jellyfish and plankton.

Insights from Industry Experts

The event featured a presentation by seafood enthusiast and educator Catriona Frankitti, who captivated the students with insights into the salmon life cycle. Catriona also highlighted the numerous health benefits of consuming fish, even providing tasty samples for the students to enjoy.

Community Engagement and Future Workforce

Craig Johnstone, Marine Site Manager in Gigha and one of the organizers, expressed his enthusiasm for the initiative: “We wanted to organize something for the school’s P6s and P7s to give them a flavor of what it’s like to be a fish farmer.” He added, “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.”

Johnstone emphasized the importance of engaging with local communities, stating, “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.”

Inspiring the Next Generation

Bakkafrost Scotland regularly collaborates with a team of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) ambassadors who visit schools to inspire students about the numerous roles and opportunities available within the aquaculture sector.

Image credit: Sharon MacDougall