Wrapping Up Ghost Farms Operation 2024
Empowering Future Generations Through Education
As 2024 draws to a close, Healthy Seas proudly reflects on a year of impactful educational activities, connected to the successful Ghost Farms: Reclaiming Waters operation. Through this initiative, we tackled a new pressing issue facing our seas—ghost farms and the broader challenges of marine and plastic pollution—by empowering future generations with knowledge and hands-on experiences.
Reaching Primary Schools Through Outdoor Education
Our work with primary schools focused on introducing young students to the interconnected topics of ecosystems, marine pollution, plastic and microplastic, marine life, and ghost nets. These activities were developed by the Healthy Seas education team in collaboration with the European Outdoor Education Hub, under the guidance of Dr Aristea Kyriakou.
Highlights of this effort included:
- Outdoor Activities: Engaging, hands-on sessions designed for primary school children, encouraging them to explore and understand the delicate balance of marine ecosystems.
- Media Support: A video, a podcast episode, and a mini tutorial extended the impact of these lessons, allowing families and educators to try similar activities at home and to discover the impact of outdoor education.
These events reached 165 students and their teachers across multiple locations: Astakos, Nafpaktos and Amphilochia, Greece.
Engaging University Students: Professionals of Tomorrow
To address the next generation of professionals—those who may one day manage aquaculture sites or industries linked to marine ecosystems—we collaborated with Christina Zantioti, MSc., PhD Candidate at the Agricultural University of Athens. Together, we developed workshops tailored to university students, focusing on sustainable practices and the science behind marine pollution.
Key activities included:
- Specialized Workshops: Seven faculties participated, with more than 205 students attending sessions on topics such as plastic pollution from aquaculture and waste management best practices.
- Video Presentation: To further narrate Christina’s work and amplify the reach of these efforts, we produced a video following her in one of these university workshops.
These university workshops were hosted at institutions including:
- Departments of Agriculture and of Fisheries, and Aquaculture of the University of Patras at Mesolonghi
- Departments of Sustainable Agriculture, of Environmental Engineering and of Food Science and Technology of the University of Patras at Agrinio
- Departments of Biological Applications and Technology and of Chemistry of the University of Ioannina in Arta (set to take place by the end of 2024).
Departments of Biological Applications and Technology and of Chemistry of the University of Ioannina at Ioannina.
Expanding the Reach: Education Through Webinar
In addition to hands-on activities and in-person workshops, the Ghost Farms: Reclaiming Waters operation extended its educational efforts to a global audience through an online webinar. This webinar brought together key experts to discuss the challenges and solutions related to ghost farms.
To ensure accessibility and continued learning, the recording of the webinar remains available online, allowing viewers to revisit the discussions or discover them for the first time.
Clean-Ups and Education: A Holistic Approach
These educational activities were intricately tied to the Ghost Farms: Reclaiming Waters operation, where Healthy Seas, Hyundai, and other partners cleaned up three abandoned fish farms in Western Greece. This initiative exemplified Healthy Seas’ commitment to its three pillars: clean-ups, education, and prevention.
By coupling cleanup operations with education, we ensured that the message of marine conservation resonated far beyond the immediate action. Whether inspiring children through outdoor exploration or equipping university students with the knowledge to drive sustainable change, our efforts were a testament to the power of education in creating a better future for our seas.
Looking Ahead
As we celebrate these milestones, Healthy Seas reaffirms its commitment to spreading awareness about ghost farms and their impacts on marine life, ecosystems, and local communities. Together, with our partners and supporters, we will continue to inspire the next generation to take action for a healthier planet.
Stay tuned for more updates as we continue our journey in 2025!
