Rationale
The Big Fish card game (https://bigfishcardgame.com) is a fun and competitive game that aims to communicate the importance of preserving size diversity of natural fish populations, encourage sustainable recreational fishing practices and increase marine literacy. The game is aimed at recreational fishers, students, educators and general audience with interest in aquatic ecosystems. The game can be played by anyone aged 10 and above and has a relatively complex strategic gameplay where players aim to maximise their points by catching fish while maintaining a healthy ecosystem by leaving fish to reproduce. Wild cards add random elements and introduce a range of marine ecology, conservation and research concepts (e.g. heat waves, species redistributions, fisheries research, plankton, illegal fishing, pollution, habitat restoration). The game features unique art and is accompanied by a website that provides further information about the fish and marine ecosystem processes, different cards represent. The website also provides links to engaged in citizen science, restoration or learn more about relevant research at IMAS and worldwide. We are planning the official launch of the game’s crowdfunding campaign to coincide with the AMSA conference and would like to present the game and its educational resources to all interested AMSA participants. Our initial testing of the game in different national and international audiences (including Tasmanian high schools and World Fisheries Congress) suggest that the game is highly engaging and fun and is likely to generate extensive interest in Australia and worldwide.
Significance to the conference theme:
Marine literacy and sustainable recreational fishing practices are essential for our ability to understand, observe and respond wisely to changes that are occurring in marine ecosystems. People care when they know, so education is essential. The Big Fish card game provides educational tools that are also fun and indirect, which can increase the uptake and target a broader range of audiences.
Experience of the principal convenor in the symposium content:
The principal convenor and the game development team have ran multiple workshops and engagement events and have extensive experience in organizing such an activity. We have also ran a number of events for this card game in particular, which gives us a strong basis to develop an engaging, informative and fun workshop.
Attendees
Everyone interested in marine literacy, recreational fishing, card games and education.
Venue
IMAS
Expected number of participants
30-60
Charge to participants
Free. We do not plan to provide catering
Preferred timing of the workshop
Most likely before the conference, if suitable
Potential sponsor
If any funds are needed - Centre for Marine Socioecology, Pew Fellowship in Marine Conservation