Prawn fishing
Focus Questions
EPISODE 34
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
What was the main point of the Prawn fishing story?
Where in South Australia are the fishermen trawling for prawns?
Which method of trawling do they use to catch the prawns?
Describe the process of catching, sorting and processing the prawns.
About how much is each net load of prawns worth?
In the past fishermen thought the prawn supply would last forever. What did
this lead to?
7. What do fishing companies now do to make sure over fishing doesn’t
happen?
8. Why is cooperation and trust important in the plan?
9. Why do the prawn fishermen hope the award will help their business?
10. Who benefits from properly managed fishing?
Fishing for the future
Pre-viewing activity
Ask students to make some predictions about what the BtN Prawn fishing story
might be about before the watch the story. They can compare their predictions
after viewing the story. Discuss the similarities and differences.
22ND NOVEMBER 2011
Learning Area
Society and Environment
Key learning
Students will gain a deeper
understanding of sustainable
fishing and the effects of
overfishing on fish stocks.
Watch the BtN Prawn fishing story again and ask students to record as many key
words as they can. Students then clarify their understanding of the key words by
writing down what they think the word means. Swap definitions with a partner
and ask them to add to or change the definition. Check them using a dictionary or
other source.
Key word
Definition
Students will explore the concept of sustainable fishing and why it is important.
The following structure may guide students’ research.
Define: What do I want to know? Develop some key questions. Some possible
questions include:
 What is sustainability?
© ABC 2011
Students can include
photographs, pictures or
diagrams in their report.




What is meant by the term overfishing?
What are the effects of overfishing on fish stocks?
What are the methods for catching fish?
What sustainable technologies are being used in catching fish and
seafood?
Locate: Where do I find the information? What resources will help answer my
questions? (Internet, people, resource centre, organisations, print)
Select: What information is important for the investigation? Students may need
support to sort through and select relevant information.
Organise: How do I make sense of the information? Students can organise their
research by creating main headings from their questions. Write each heading on a
separate piece of paper. Record the information found for each question.
Present: The research findings can be emailed to your teacher or presented to
small groups or the class.
Further Investigations
Design packaging or a logo for seafood products that have been certified as
sustainable.
How would you persuade fishermen to use sustainable methods? Write a newspaper
or magazine article explaining the benefits of changing to sustainable fishing
techniques.
Research the process of getting fish/seafood from the ocean to the plate.
 Related Research Links
ABC 730 – Prawn trawlers certified
http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2011/s3359597.htm
Oceanwatch Australia – Fun sites for kids
http://www.oceanwatch.org.au/kids-stuff/fun-sites-for-kids/
National Geographic – Sustainable seafood
http://ocean.nationalgeographic.com/ocean/take-action/sustainable-seafood/
© ABC 2011