5 May, 2007

A NEW educational display has been unveiled at Shetland's NAFC Marine Centre to local school children for the first time, in the hope it will encourage them to take up a career in marine science.

Twenty pupils and teachers from Scalloway Primary School were the first to catch sight of the new 'Seas Around Us' project, with its colourful and exotic displays of marine life collected by the NAFC fishing vessel, Atlantia II.

Aquaculture lecturer Kenny Gifford said: "It's natural for children to be interested in creatures around them. One of the advantages of this project is that children can see many of the local species from the sea without the danger of falling in.

"They will also see species they wouldn't normally see in the ebb such as cod, thornback ray, lemon sole, prawns and octopus."

To remember their visit, pupils were given a booklet containing colourful photographs of sea life with pages for colouring, puzzles and quizzes.

"Occasions such as these will stay in the memory for years to come and may foster a more serious interest in marine biology," Mr Gifford said.

"Shetland depends on its marine environment for its income and jobs. The opportunity to work with schools to encourage children from a young age to follow careers in the area of marine science is to be fostered."

Despite being devised with school pupils in mind, NAFC are having an open afternoon on 11 May from 2pm till 4.30pm. Anyone with an interest in local marine life is invited to attend.