Salmon Fishing Scotland.: Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay Foundation Salmon Eggs in the Classroom.

Thursday, June 29, 2017

Salmon Fishing Scotland Tay Foundation Salmon Eggs in the Classroom.

The Salmon Eggs in the Classroom project presentation to the winning schools took place at the Almondbank hatchery yesterday.
It is a cross agency initiative providing some of the best hands-on learning that our children can experience. It allows them to take part in a real life conservation initiative. Participating Agencies include Scottish Natural Heritage, The Scottish Executive, Perth & Kinross Council Green Space (teachers, Countryside Rangers and supporting school staff), Atholl Countryside Rangers, Tay Ghillies Association and the Tay Foundation.

Stanley School being presented with a cheque for their project by Foundation Chairman John Wood and Green Space Ranger Susan Whyte. Tay Ghillie Chairman and secretary Mike Hay were also present who donated the transportation costs plus proud teacher form Stanley, Sandra Morton.

The programme brings fish directly into the primary class room. The hatchery provides eyed salmon eggs to each school. These are placed in fish tanks held in chiller cabinets. This enables the kids to watch daily the hatching of the eggs and development of the baby fish, which are then returned to a local river. The children not only learn about the natural history of the fish, but actually get to look after them.

Subsequently class field trips are organised to the release locations and using electrofishing equipment catch fish (hopefully including some of the ones they released). This enables pupils to identify different fish and their life stages and even to learn how to handle fish safely and properly.

The Stanley pupils show off their work.
Fish are not the only topics covered during such field trips. Kick samples of aquatic life are taken and the youngsters are invited to count and identify them using simple keys.