Media Release: Seafood in Schools roadshow sails into Langholm Academy

PUPILS from Langholm Academy are in for a treat next week, when the Seafood in Schools team bring their roadshow to town.

They will be joined by children from Langholm and Canonbie primaries.

On Wednesday 18th and Thursday 19^th November 2015, 250 children will attend three workshops to learn where seafood comes from, how it gets to their plates and why eating seafood is an important part of a healthy diet.

The first session, always a favourite with pupils, is a fabulous display of fresh seafood, supplied by long-time Seafood in Schools supporter John Vallance, with some more unusual species brought along by Jane Mills from the Marine Scotland Science laboratory in Aberdeen.

The Scottish Salmon Producers’ Organisation is providing a salmon for the display, which will left for use by the home economics department.

Jane Mills is hosting the workshop and is an expert at delivering a lively presentation.

She said: “I love working with the kids, because they are so eager to learn. They are fascinated to find out that we age a fish by counting the rings on its otolith – ear bone – and to learn that crustaceans grown by moulting their shells. And I’m always surprise by the number of pupils who clamour to handle the fish and shellfish.”

Catriona Frankitti, from Fish for Health, will be delivering her popular ‘Come Dine with Cat’ workshop, at which pupils learn about the benefits of exercise and a diet high in Omega 3, also known as a ‘superfishoil’, whilst tasting samples of smoked salmon from Lion’s Speciality Foods, hot smoked trout from Belhaven Smokehouse, marinated herring from Silver Tide, smoked mackerel from the local Co-op and skippers from John West.

“Our partners are very generous with their fish for sampling, and we always identify the provenance to enable parents to seek it out in store,” said Catriona.

“It’s really exciting watching the expressions on children’s faces when they try something they have never eaten before, then getting a big smile and a ‘thumbs up’!” she added.

“We have had so many comments from parents thanking us for getting their children into seafood.”

Chef, Phil Woodcock, from Smiths of Gretna, will demonstrate some simple recipes using mackerel and haddock, expertly aided by senior Academy pupils.

With recipes available to take home, Phil hopes that his dishes will be recreated in many homes over the next few weeks.

All schools taking part in the workshops commit to undertake a seafood-based project during the year and to disseminate the results to the rest of their school. In this way they are able to pass on information to a wide group of students.

Seafood in Schools co-ordinator, Sheila Bannerman, has organised informal drop-in sessions at lunchtime for teachers to demonstrate how seafood can be used as a context for learning throughout the curriculum, and to outline the wide range of careers available throughout the seafood industry.

“Lots of teachers and older pupils come along to these sessions and many are surprised to find out how complex our seafood industry really is,” said Sheila.

ENDS

Photocall with the children: 1100 Wednesday 18^th November (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

Note to editors:

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. For more information please visit: http://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.

For more information please contact: Nicki Holmyard, SiS manager on 0771 127 2637 nicki@seafoodscotland.org or visit: http://www.seafoodinschools.org

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