In 2013 pupils in Europe had a chance to have their say on the future of our fish stocks!
From October 2012 to December 2013, MEDASSET was a major supporter of the Paint a Fish campaign in Greece. Through our educational programmes and public events young people were encouraged to paint a fish, as a symbolic gesture to help replenish our fish stocks. The creative campaign was an effective way to mobilise school children, as well as the wider public across Europe, to have their say in favour of sustainable fisheries.
The colourful “virtual fish stock” was translated into creative advocacy materials which called on EU leaders to refill our seas by restoring fish stocks to their maximum sustainable yield (MSY). Via social media and painting fish, dozens of Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) and EU ministers were directly involved with the campaign and hundreds of them received Paint a Fish materials that encouraged them to end overfishing and ensure there will be fish to eat in the future.
The campaign was timed with the final stages of the reform of the EU Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) – a once in a 10-year opportunity to lay the foundations of sustainable fisheries in Europe.
The European Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Ms Maria Damanaki, honored the campaign with the below statement:
“The inspirational efforts of younger generations, through painting fish, show the important role that they can have in shaping their future and for that, I would like to congratulate them.”
Click here to view the final report.
Click here to view the free educational resources.
Click here to view all fish paintings created by young people in Greece.