SEAFOOD Scotland is taking its acclaimed Seafood in Schools project to Tain Royal Academy this week, where pupils will be joined by children from Bonar Bridge, Craighill, Edderton, Gledfield, Hill of Fearn, Hilton of Cadboll, Inver, Knockbrek and Tarbet Old primary schools.
On Wednesday 3rd June, more than 160 pupils will attend a series of half-hour workshops, designed to improve their understanding of the wider Scottish seafood industry and the opportunities it affords young people thinking about future careers.
A firm favourite is always the fresh fish counter, where children can see and handle species including salmon, crab, haddock, lobster, crab, mussels and oysters, and learn about their journeys from sea to plate using specially designed wallcharts.
This workshop is hosted by Seafood in Schools coordinator Ruathy Donald, with fish and shellfish kindly supplied by local companies Bannerman’s Seafood and Keltic Seafare, with a salmon supplied by the Scottish Salmon Producers’ Organisation.
Scott Landsburgh, CEO of SSPO, said: “We are delighted to continue our support for such a fun and informative programme. Encouraging kids to eat a healthy balanced diet that includes fish rich in Omega 3 such as salmon is really important for improving concentration and enhancing brain development.
“The salmon farming industry plays an important part in many rural communities across Scotland and we hope this programme will inform families of some of the benefits it brings, including the positive impact it has on the Scottish economy.”
Seafood’s vital part in the diet is covered by Catriona Frankitti of the Fish for Health project, who will take pupils through the health and wellbeing benefits of a seafood-rich diet, and encourage them to taste a selection of species high in Omega 3, such as hot smoked mackerel, mussels, crab pate and hot smoked trout from Tesco, cold smoked salmon and marinated herring from Bannerman’s Seafood and John West sprats from International Fish Canners, all served with oatcakes sponsored by Nairns.
“The tasting sessions are great fun and we encourage everyone to join in,” said Catriona Frankitti.
“We always inform children and their parents where they can source the seafood we serve, and local suppliers are pleased to find an uplift in sales following our workshops, which further encourages their support for us,” she confirmed.
Pupils will also be treated to a cookery demonstration of quick and easy seafood dishes by, Simon Rodgers of Burghfield House hotel, accompanied by Ryan Widdows and Connor Beattie. There will be plenty of spoons available for tastings, and recipes to take home, for children to recreate with their parents.
Spreading the ‘eat more seafood’ to a wider audience is an important part of the Seafood in Schools project, and a community event designed to achieve this, will be held at Tain Academy on Wednesday 3rd June, from 4.30 -6.30pm, for relatives and friends of pupils.
Following the workshops, each participating class undertakes a project of their choosing using seafood as a context for learning, which they must demonstrate to the rest of the school through an assembly or similar activity.
“In this way, we ensure that the Seafood in Schools programme and the messages it teaches, have a very wide reach,” said Ruathy Donald.
ENDS
Notes to editors:
Photocall with the children: 11am Wednesday 3rd June (alternative timings by arrangement).
To arrange a photocall or for further press enquiries, please contact Martin Hunt on 07767 401 760, martin@tartansilk.co.uk
Seafood Scotland is an industry organisation that works throughout the supply-chain with fishermen, fish/shellfish farmers, processors, retailers, food service companies, caterers, NGOs and consumers, to develop and enhance the competitive performance, quality practices and global reputation of a sustainable Scottish seafood industry. It is the delivery partner for Seafish in Scotland. Seafood Scotland manages the Seafood in Schools project. www.seafoodscotland.org
Seafood in Schools is a project that aims to teach children about Scottish seafood; where it comes from, how it reaches our plates, and why eating seafood is good for us. It is funded by Scottish Government, Seafish, Scottish Salmon Producers’ Organisation, the Scottish Fishermen’s Trust and the Scottish Whitefish Producers’ Association, and also relies on in-kind contributions and involvement by the fishing and aquaculture industries. www.seafoodinschools.org
For more information please contact: Nicki Holmyard, SiS manager on 0771 127 2637 or nicki@seafoodscotland.org
Scottish Salmon Producers’ Organisation (SSPO) is at the centre of salmon farming’s industry-wide initiatives and public communication, acting as a trusted source of information, a strong industry voice and a focus through which industry leadership and objectives can be channelled.
Set up in 2006, as an industry organisation for Scottish salmon farming, all members participate in the Code of Good Practice for Scottish Finfish Aquaculture. The organisation plays a central role in representing the industry on political, regulatory, media and technical issues in Scotland, the UK, EU and internationally.
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