Future generations leading the charge to protect our marine environment

Primary school students will soon become champions of the NSW marine estate, with a new education program released today by the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) Fisheries.

DPI Fisheries Director Marine Estate Management Mr Heath Folpp said the Marine Estate Agents program will provide our younger generation with tools to increase their awareness of threats to coastal waterways and become ‘agents of change’.

“The lessons and learning resources are tailored for Years 1 to 6 and have been created to assist teachers to easily integrate the program into the classroom, offering teaching materials aligned with the NSW curriculum,” Mr Folpp said.

“The program includes resources that will take students on a journey through a range of coastal environments, while addressing a variety of topics including threatened species, responsible fishing, catchment management and traditional use of Sea Country.”

“The program is accessible to all primary schools, regardless of coastal location, with the teaching resources now available to download for free from the NSW Marine Estate website.”

“We acknowledge the valuable and varied roles that NSW educational partners play in the success of educational initiatives around the marine estate and look forward to supporting teachers in the adoption of the Marine Estate Agents program within their school.”

Mr Folpp said the Marine Estate Agents program is a key output of the NSW Marine Estate Education Strategy, which will help ensure positive behavioural changes for generations to come.

"Eighty-five per cent of NSW residents live within 50 kilometres of the coast, and our marine estate supports a $15 billion ocean economy – a healthy marine estate shapes the success of coastal communities,” Mr Folpp said.

“The Education Strategy is a key deliverable of the NSW Government's Marine Estate Management Strategy and will coordinate, develop and deliver education programs to promote a healthy marine estate.

“Educating younger generations about the importance of a healthy marine estate will further safeguard it now and into the future.”

Find the primary school resources here. To learn more about the Marine Estate Agents program email Chantelle Burns, Manager Marine Estate Education, chantelle.burns@dpi.nsw.gov.au.