Children educated on plastic pollution in our ocean |27 August 2018

The children learning about the impacts of plastic pollution in our ocean

Marine pollution caused by plastic dumped in the ocean and how it affects not just the sea life but also human life was the theme of activities held for children on Friday.

The event was organised by the Natural History Museum in collaboration with Wise Oceans, a maritime environmental NGO.

The children, who are on school holidays, learned about marine pollution through a series of small activities based on plastic pollution in our ocean.

Nicole Barreau, assistant museum curator, said that this activity was to help educate children on marine life and the pollution affecting us as a  group of islands.

The theme for the activity was ‘Plastic pollution in our Ocean’.  

“This is one of our planned activities for this August holidays to share the message of the impact that marine pollution brings and to educate the children on what pollution is all about,” said Mrs Barreau.

She explained that at the end of the activity, she is hoping that the children would have understood the impact that plastic has on our marine life and how it affects the different species in the ocean.

The children can then share the message at home and at school on marine pollution and how to prevent it.

Activities will continue during the holidays and these will include walks to nature trails.

An evaluation based on the activities that the children have taken part in will then be portrayed in an exhibition planned for the end of year.

Friday’s activity included a short presentation which included a video show by Ben Taylor, who is the education and outreach manager at Wise Oceans.

Mr Taylor said that when Mrs Barreau approached him with the idea of organising this programme, he willingly volunteered after meeting with other organisations to participate and help educate the children on marine life pollution.

“I want the children to see how marine is affected by plastic dumped into the ocean, and to also see how it will affect marine life in the future,” he said.

Other organisations such as Marine Conservation Society Seychelles (MCSS), Seychelles Islands Foundation (SIF) and the Seychelles Fishing Authority (SFA) also collaborated towards the activity.

Friday’s activity also saw participants grouping up and visiting various tables set up at the museum by the different organisations, where they learned about marine life pollution through games and talks.