Fun Characters Teach Kids About Local Seafood
A new campaign called Les Estrelles del Mar (The Stars of the Sea) is being rolled out in schools across Catalonia to encourage children and their families to eat more locally caught fish. Five Local Fisheries Action Groups (GALP), covering the Costa Central, Marina de Llevant, Mar de l’Ebre, Costa Brava, and Costa Daurada, are leading the initiative, which presents fish and shellfish from Catalan waters as playful characters with unique personalities and "superpowers". The anchovy is "the saltiest", the gilthead bream "the elegant one", the sea bass "the trendy", the red mullet "the artist", the lobster "the rebel", and the squid "the tourist", among others. Through this creative approach, the campaign blends humour and imagination with facts about each species’ habitat, traits, and nutritional benefits.
Educational Resources Now Available Online
Teachers can access free classroom materials via the official website www.estrellesdelmar.cat, including the activity booklet Sigues una Estrella del Mar! (Be a Star of the Sea!), which features games, challenges, and missions to help pupils learn about local marine life, healthy eating, and sustainable fishing.
The goal is to spark children’s interest in Mediterranean seafood and inspire them to share what they’ve learned with their families. By doing so, the campaign aims to strengthen the connection between schools, households, and regional food culture, making local fish a natural and appealing choice at home.
We want schools to be hubs for building healthy habits and bridging knowledge between classrooms and homes.
The project is co-funded by the Generalitat de Catalunya and the European Union through the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (FEMPA), which supports sustainable fishing, responsible seafood production, and thriving coastal communities under its 2021–2027 strategy.
How Families Can Get Involved
Parents and educators can download all resources for free at www.estrellesdelmar.cat. No registration is required. The materials are designed for primary school pupils but can be adapted for family use at home.
Primary sources: eb.gencat.cat, patrimoni.gencat.cat. Reported by estrellesdelmar.cat, Revista Cambrils.
