Fish in Schools Launches at Glasgow Science Centre

More than 370 children from the Glasgow area have attended a launch day at Glasgow Science Centre to mark the beginning of their project caring for brown trout.  Thanks to the support of the Greggs Foundation “Fish in Schools” (FinS) will help enthuse a new generation of “future stewards”.  Fifteen schools in the River Clyde Catchment are taking part in FinS, an eco-education project delivered by the Clyde River Foundation.

The project, which is in its second year, inspires children to engage with nature and take pride in their local environment. Pupils will work closely with scientists from the Clyde River Foundation to raise brown trout from eggs to fry, whilst learning about factors affecting river health. Once the fish become fry, children will set them free into their local stretch of the Clyde.

Dr William Yeomans, Catchment Manager at the Clyde River Foundation, said “With Fish in Schools, we hope to connect children with the wildlife on their doorsteps and inspire the next generation of river stewards, so that the river is better looked after and enjoyed by all. Thanks to support from the Greggs Foundation, we have been able to offer this project to 15 schools in areas where a positive approach to the environment could have a large impact. As a charity we work to inspire children from all backgrounds to care for their environment and to demonstrate that science is accessible to everybody.”

Each of the schools are located in areas with a high rank on the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD), so the project aims to bring a positive impact to the communities involved.

Schools from Glasgow, Inverclyde, South Lanarkshire, North Lanarkshire and West Dunbartonshire are taking part in FinS. The project was developed by the Clyde River Foundation in partnership with The Rivers Trust, the Ayrshire Rivers Trust and the Loch Lomond Fisheries Trust.