Students at three Charlottetown schools will be given an opportunity to learn more about oceans and the species which inhabit them during World Oceans Day activities on June 6. The activities are being organized by the Department of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Rural Development in cooperation with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, and will be held at Parkdale Elementary School.
The activities will feature a life size fin whale model which students can walk through and around, along with an equally impressive display of a shark model. The models are presented by Oceans Wild, an educational organization which provides students an up-close and tangible experience with creatures of the oceans they may not have the opportunity to see in the wild. Other activities include a creativity exhibit featuring artwork, poetry, crafts and stories. Students and teachers are also being encouraged to take part in a “dress the bluest” challenge.
“World Oceans Day is aimed at increasing awareness and understanding of the importance of the oceans which surround us and the marine life which inhabits them,” said Fisheries, Aquaculture and Rural Development Minister, Allan Campbell. “Our fisheries and aquaculture contribute approximately $350 million to the provincial economy, and other ocean-related industries such as tourism, shipping and boat building make significant contributions as well. The protection and sustainable management of our marine environment is critical to our future well-being.”
The minister said that the activities planned for students are a great way of introducing them to many fascinating aspects of the waters which surround our shores. Mr. Campbell and Bill Drost, Prince Edward Island area director of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, will take part in an opening assembly at the school on Friday morning.
“I am very pleased to be working closely with the provincial department to bring this exciting program to students,” said Mr. Drost. “This is a great way of sharing the idea that the oceans are a part of all our lives.”
June 8 was designated by the United Nations at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro to raise awareness of the importance of oceans. The designation was proposed by Canada, which has the largest shoreline of any nation in the world. An increasing number of countries have marked June 8 as an opportunity to celebrate world oceans and the personal connection of citizens to the sea.
This is the fourth year that events have been organized in Island schools.