On Saturday, May 25th, the Ocean Keepers Club visited the Center for Marine Conservation (CMC) for their fifth learning session out of twelve. They are nearly halfway through their yearlong journey of fun and engaging marine exploration. A total of 46 enthusiastic students attended this session, which had the exciting theme of “Underwater City.”

The students participated in two educational activities focusing on sustainable fishing practices and the incredible biodiversity of marine species.

In the first activity, the students learned about sustainable fishing through the Sustainable Fishing Game. Acting as fishermen, they had five minutes to “catch” as many fish as possible. They then gathered to count and score their catches, which included sharks, red snapper, snapper, sardines, and mackerel. The scoring system emphasized sustainable practices: sharks resulted in point deductions due to their ecological importance while overfishing red snapper also led to penalties. This game highlighted the impact of overfishing and taught students the value of responsible fishing to protect marine ecosystems.

In the second activity, the students explored the Coral City exhibit at the CMC, learning about the rich diversity of marine life through videos and hands-on activities.

By the end of the day, the students had gained a deeper understanding of the underwater world’s incredible diversity and the importance of protecting these vital ecosystems. The Ocean Keepers Club aims to inspire future generations to cherish and safeguard the natural beauty of our oceans. Watch the highlight video of this session here.

Writer: Emma DeBenedictis
Photos: Emma DeBenedictis/CTC