This week marks the beginning of the first edition of the SEA2SEE MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) “Navigating the Sea to Plate Journey for Responsible Seafood Consumption”, dedicated to promoting awareness of responsible seafood consumption. Over the past eight months, SUBMON and other project partners have been diligently working to develop this course, whose main goal is to address one of the main barriers to responsible seafood consumption: the lack of seafood literacy in society.
What is this MOOC about?
The SEA2SEE MOOC is part of the project’s Consumer Engagement Strategy, designed to increase awareness and knowledge about seafood products and encourage responsible consumption.
The main goal of this course is to equip participants with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions and offer them guidelines and tips for responsible purchasing and consumption of seafood.
Structured into five comprehensive learning modules, the course covers:
- Ocean and seafood literacy: including all the basic principles of ocean literacy and seafood literacy, from understanding our relation with the ocean, to identifying key species and considerations for seafood sustainability.
- Fisheries: detailed insights into the complexities of global fisheries, including sustainability challenges, small-scale fishing gears, governance, conservation research and technological innovations to improve the blue economy sector.
- Aquaculture: this module will allow participants to learn the basics of aquaculture practices, with a focus on land-based aquaculture thanks to a virtual tour of SEAentia facilities in Portugal and explore sustainability of this sector
- Traceability and the seafood value chain: discovering the journey of seafood from ocean to plate, and the importance of traceability and blockchain technology to enhance transparency and trust in the seafood supply chain.
- Responsible consumption and engagement: guidelines for responsible buying and consumer engagement. This module features successful stories of commitment to seafood sustainability around Europe
Who should enroll?
The primary audience of the SEA2SEE open online course is consumers and stakeholders at the end of the seafood value chain, such as market owners, fishmongers, chefs, restaurant owners, food bloggers, and supermarket representatives. Students from marine and environmental sciences, educators and teachers can also find added value in taking the course, as it can provide them with helpful resources to enhance classroom experience and other non-formal educational contexts.
Ultimately, this course is for everyone – from those with a passion for environmental sustainability to anyone curious about the origins of seafood and how to make more sustainable choices.
Methodology
The course content is delivered through recorded presentations and video capsules, complemented by additional support materials like summaries, infographics, and animated videos. Participants can also benefit from Open Forums, where they can engage in discussions, exchange ideas with the experts, and ask questions about the modules. The course is designed for flexibility, allowing participants to learn at their own pace within a specified timeframe. English is the delivery language of the course, but extra resources in other languages are also available.
Following this first release, three more editions of the MOOC are planned throughout the project’s lifespan, each lasting approximately two months. The educational materials will be reviewed and updated based on feedback from participants.
Completing the SEA2SEE MOOC comes with numerous benefits. Participants who successfully finish the course will be awarded a digital certificate signed by the SEA2SEE consortium, providing formal recognition of their achievement. Beyond this, there are additional incentives: at the end of each edition of the MOOC, participants who have earned a certificate of completion will be entered into a prize raffle. This exciting opportunity allows participants to win prizes to deepen their knowledge about seafood literacy through exciting experiences and unique educational materials.
Enrollment information
The current edition of the MOOC is open until the end of September 2024. Don’t miss this opportunity to enhance your seafood literacy and contribute to responsible consumption practices. Enroll here.
For more information, please contact us at mooc.support@submon.org
