Collaborative Laboratory for the Blue Bioeconomy visited a kindergarten in Vila do Conde

What is “Aquaculture”? What are the main “Species” farmed in Portugal? What is ‘IMTA’? What is “Omega-3” used for? And which “Universities” offer courses related to this sector of activity?

These were some of the questions that the Collaborative Laboratory for Blue Bioeconomy (B2E CoLAB) helped to clarify this Tuesday at Jardim dos Sonhos, in Vila do Conde, with the participation of 35 children, aged between 3 and 6, as part of the latest “AEIOU da Aquacultura” campaign.

The campaign consists of short videos in which each letter corresponds to a keyword. Thus:

A – corresponds to “Aquaculture,” which is defined as “the cultivation of fish, shellfish, or plants in water.”

E – is associated with “Species,” indicating the main species produced in aquaculture in Portugal, which are “clams, oysters, turbot, mussels, sea bream, and sea bass.”

I – refers to the aquaculture production system “IMTA” (Integrated Multitrophic System), “one of the possible aquaculture production systems” and where “food waste from one species is recycled and becomes food for another species,” thus creating circularity.

O – corresponds to “Omega-3,” whose main source is fish, being strongly present in farmed fish, and which “is an essential fat for us to be healthy.”

U – refers to “Universities” and the respective training in the field, available from north to south of the country, opening horizons for possible professions in the field, ranging from “marine biology” to “research,” “fish production,” “diving,” among others.

The initiative was supported by Sea Eight, which provided a recirculating aquaculture system for sole, and Carlos Vila-Franca, an aquaculture technician, who answered questions from the children; AIMM – Association for Marine Environment Research, which provided photographs; CIIMAR – Interdisciplinary Center for Marine and Environmental Research, which provided 3D fish models; and (Sonae) MC, which offered high-quality, fresh aquaculture fish (sea bream) for lunch for the entire school community.

You can learn more about the campaign and watch the videos here.

Would you like B2E to bring this or another activity to your school? Contact us!