EarthEcho Expeditions Virtual Field Trip: Seabird Friendly Fishing with Hookpod
Summary
Approximately 600,000 sea birds die each year by getting caught on hooks used in line fishing. Twenty-three species of sea birds facing extinction are vulnerable to these methods of fishing. A device called the Hookpod, invented by a UK company in Devon, has a clever solution to this problem. Join us live from England, as we learn all about the Hookpod and the positive impact this technology has on the fisheries industry.
Panelists
Becky Ingham
Classroom Resources
Fish Hooks, Not Bird Hooks: A STEM Design Challenge
Approximately 600,000 sea birds die each year by getting caught on hooks used in line fishing. A device called the Hookpod, invented by a UK company in Devon, has a clever solution to this problem. The fish hook is covered by a case so birds cannot get hooked. At a certain depth (below the diving depth of indigenous birds) a mechanism is triggered to release the case which floats to the surface and is retrieved to be used again. These lesson ideas provide an interesting practical idea to use a particle model to explain density and pressure in a gas. Students will then take part in a STEM design challenge to make a device to respond to a pressure change at a particular depth of water.
EarthEcho Expeditions: What's the Catch? Fisheries Impact
Fish are a major food source for many of the world’s population, however, many fishing practices can be detrimental to the environment. One of these negative impacts is called by-catch. Philippe travels to the Plymouth Fishmarket to learn about quotas and how this can impact fish populations. Different fish species have different life cycles and histories, which is something that also needs to be taken into account in order to properly manage fish stocks. Impacts from mismanaged fisheries can be seen around the world, Philippe sets out to find out what is being done to protect this vital resource.
Science Standards
UK General Certificate of Secondary Education:
WS 1.2 - Use a variety of models such as representational, spatial, descriptive, computational, and mathematical to solve problems, make predictions, and to develop scientific explanations and understanding of familiar and unfamiliar facts.
WS 1.3 - Appreciate the power and limitations of science and consider any ethical issues which may arise.
WS 1.4 - Explain everyday and technological applications of science; evaluate associated personal, social, economic and environmental implications; and make decisions based on the evaluation of evidence and arguments.
US Next Generation Science Standards:
5-ESS3-1. - Obtain and combine information about ways individual communities use science ideas to protect the Earth’s resources and environment.
ESS3.C: Human Impacts on Earth Systems - Human activities in agriculture, industry, and everyday life have had major effects on the land, vegetation, streams, ocean, air, and even outer space. But individuals and communities are doing things to help protect Earth’s resources and environments.
Australian Science Curriculum:
Physical Science -Energy appears in different forms, including movement (kinetic energy), heat and potential energy, and energy transformations and transfers cause change within systems (ACSSU155)
Science as A Human Endeavour -Scientific knowledge has changed peoples’ understanding of the world and is refined as new evidence becomes available (ACSHE134)
Use and Influence of Science -People use science understanding and skills in their occupations and these have influenced the development of practices in areas of human activity (ACSHE136)