Fish in schools programme seeks to expand

The Fish in Schools Program, which has been running in ten Christchurch schools for five years, is seeking additional schools interested in using mini hatcheries in the classroom. Fish & Game has a further ten tanks available for student to use to rear salmon eggs from incubation through to hatch and release...

Fish in Schools aims to improve student appreciation for the aquatic environment through a hands-on approach to learning. Whether small or large, class projects based on salmon have the potential to engage student interest. Raising salmon in an incubator and linking this to environmental education helps to develop student awareness of environmental issues related to water and aquatic environments.

The project involves students rearing approximately 200 salmon eggs in late May using a specially designed incubator, or ‘mini hatchery’. Once hatched, students have the opportunity to nurture the fry until the students release the fish in November. Fish and Game supply all the equipment – there is no cost to the school. All that is required from the school is space on a bench close to a water supply for the aquarium, keep the incubator environment healthy and clean, and choose a river for the fish to be released into.

Fish & Game is currently looking for schools interested in using these mini hatcheries in the classroom. We invite you, or interested teachers, to view our trial set-up at the Fish and Game office. The only restriction is schools must have un-chlorinated water.

Schools will be provided with a comprehensive information booklet (click here to view) with projects and activities targeted at all age groups. There is also the opportunity for teachers to take students on a guided field trip to the Fish & Game hatchery located just above the Rakaia Gorge. Certificates of achievement are also available from Fish & Game.

If you are interested in viewing a working model, please contact Fish and Game to arrange a time for you to visit them.

North Canterbury Fish & Game

Contact: Steve Terry
Office: 3 Horatio Street, Christchurch 8001
Phone: +64 3 366-9191
Fax: +64 3 365-0612
Email: northcanterbury@fishandgame.org.nz