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sustainable fishing field trip

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Teacher Resources - Activities

Marine Stewardship Council 2020ABN 69 517 984 605, ACN: 102 397 839 msc.org/saltwaterschools 1

fishing field trip

instructionsFocussing Question

What makes a fish a fish? What fish live near us? Learning Outcomes

• Describe key features of fishes • Observe a fish and record evidence• Experience and identify local marine species

You will need

• Bait catchers (set up with lanyard, bait, weight) (one per group)• Buckets (one per group)• Shade cloth (wet tea towel or umbrella)• Timer• Measuring tape or ruler• Copies of the worksheet• Clip board and pencil• ID Books for your local area

Notes

• Find a local site to conduct the field trip. A local wharf would be ideal.

• Identify a species of fish to target. This will be different according to where in Australia you live. Choose a small sized fish that is plentiful in your area

• Explain how to transfer fish from bait catchers to buckets without harming fish. We don’t want to harm or kill any sea creatures during this field trip!

• Find the Recreational Fishing Guidelines for your State or Territory

• We have set the fishing time at 5 minutes. It may take longer for the fish to pick up the scent of bait in which case you may need to extend to 10 minutes.

Marine Stewardship Council 2020ABN 69 517 984 605, ACN: 102 397 839 msc.org/saltwaterschools 2

Pre-Trip (15 mins+)

1. Discuss species of fish targeted. Make sure learners can recognise the target fish. Explain what we will do on our field trip.

2. Have learners complete the Target Fish Worksheet on page 4

3. Work as a class to complete the Field Trip Investigation on pages 6 to 8

4. Read the Responsible Fishing Rules for your local area as a class If you can’t find the rules for your area, look through the Fish n’ Kids website from the NSW Department of Primary Industries

In the Field (60 mins+)

1. Once at the site, break learners into small groups.

2. Each group needs to a. Complete the top two rows of the field trip data sheet. b. Set up a bait catcher (add bait such as buttered bread, one or two small fishing weights and securely tie a lanyard or line to the catcher). c. Fill a bucket with seawater and ensure it is in the shade or shaded by a shade cloth / umbrella (this is a safe haven for any creatures caught by the group). d. Gently lower the catcher into the sea and start the timer. e. Leave the bait catcher in the water for exactly five minutes then retrieve. f. Carefully put the catcher in the bucket of water and open to allow any fish or other sea creatures to escape. g. Use the data sheet provided [see final pages] to record what was caught. h. Check bait and rebait if needed.

3. Repeat steps d-h five times and record all creatures caught.

4. Observe the target species. What do you notice about the fish? How does it swim? Where are the mouth and eyes? Do you think they are bottom dwellers (benethic) or mid water fish (pelagic)?

5. Gently release all creatures back to the sea!

Marine Stewardship Council 2020ABN 69 517 984 605, ACN: 102 397 839 msc.org/saltwaterschools 3

Post-Trip (15 mins+)

1. Review and evaluate. What did we learn? What more do we want to learn?

2. Talk about fishing effort i.e. how long it took to catch the fish?

3. Talk about the Marine Stewardship Council’s three principles for sustainable fisheries and consider the fish that you just caught: a) Fishing effort: Is there evidence of overfishing for this fish? b) Bycatch: Was it easy to just catch the targeted fish or was there bycatch? Was it easy to catch the required amount (one fish)? What percent of bycatch were released unharmed? c) Habitat damage: Was there any damage to the environment from our fishing method? d) Fishery management: Are there rules around catching this fish? What might we do if we found out that this fish was in danger of being overfished, to help protect its species? One answer might be to try and fish for a different species instead. e) Fishing method: Was ours the best fishing method? What might be the likely impact of other fishing methods?

4. Have learners complete the FIeld Trip Investigation sheet on page 5

Marine Stewardship Council 2020ABN 69 517 984 605, ACN: 102 397 839 msc.org/saltwaterschools 4

target fish worksheetFill in the gaps with information about a fish that lives near you!

__________ are a type of fish found in the sea near where we live.

Common name: _______________________________Other name(s): ________________________________Scientific name: _______________________________

Description____________ are a fish that belongs to the ____________ family.

Habitat [Describe the type of environment the fish live]_______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________

Distribution [Describe where in Australia the fish are found]_______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________

Other interesting facts [Write two interesting facts about this fish]1. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 2. _____________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________

Draw a picture of your target fish below.

Label your picture with: Eye, Mouth, Gill, Caudal or tail fin, Dorsal fin, Pectoral fins

Marine Stewardship Council 2020ABN 69 517 984 605, ACN: 102 397 839 msc.org/saltwaterschools 5

field trip investigation

On this field trip you will be visiting a local fishing site to try and catch a fish! Complete the following questions BEFORE your fishing field trip

Write down three questions that you will investigate on your fishing expedition

1. ______________________________________________________________________ 2. ______________________________________________________________________ 3. ______________________________________________________________________

List the scientific equipment and materials you might need to catch and identify your fish?

_______________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

What are some of the safety risks that we should consider before conducting the scientific investigation?

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

Complete the following question AFTER your fishing field trip

How might we improve the scientific accuracy (reliability) of our investigation in the future?

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

Marine Stewardship Council 2020ABN 69 517 984 605, ACN: 102 397 839 msc.org/saltwaterschools 6

Your name(s):

Michael Parker & Susan Abrahams

Date & time:

Thursday 4th June 2020, 6pm

Site Location:

Fremantle Fishing Boat Harbour, WA 6159

Five minute period

Type of creature/species (if known)

Number observed

Number caught

Other notes eg. size, female / male, special features

0-5 mins

Bream 1

0

5-10 mins

Herring 1 0

20cm

10-15 mins

Herring 3 2

10cm

Juvenile

sample field trip data sheet

example:

High tide today is at:

10:43 AM

Name of target fish:

Herring

Time taken to catch

target fish:15 mins

Marine Stewardship Council 2020ABN 69 517 984 605, ACN: 102 397 839 msc.org/saltwaterschools 7

Your name(s): Date & time: Site Location:

field trip data sheet

High tide today is at:

Name of target fish:

Time taken to catch

target fish:

Five minute period

Type of creature/species (if known)

Number observed Number caught

Other notes eg. female / male, special features

Marine Stewardship Council 2020ABN 69 517 984 605, ACN: 102 397 839 msc.org/saltwaterschools 8

Five minute period

Type of creature/species (if known)

Number observed Number caught

Other notes eg. female / male, special features

Five minute period

Type of creature/species (if known)

Number observed Number caught

Other notes eg. female / male, special features