School’s back! Marine biosecurity in the classroom

Reaching the next generation is key and New Zealand schools have a growing range of marine biosecurity education resources that help students understand marine pests, ecosystem health and their role as caretakers of the moana. 

The Blake programmes provide experiential environmental education, with initiatives such as BLAKE Inspire and VR outreach connecting students with scientists and marine issues while building environmental leadership and action in schools. 

Yachting New Zealand’s Moanamoana programme encourages students to explore marine ecosystems, including pollution, overfishing and environmental impacts, often through citizen-science approaches that connect classroom learning with real-world coastal experiences. 

The Marine Metre Squared (MM2) programme enables hands-on shoreline monitoring. Students survey marine life using a standard square-metre method, generating data that can track environmental change over time while supporting biosecurity awareness. 

The most targeted biosecurity resource is our own module, which provides ready-to-use lessons, videos and activities explaining what marine biosecurity is, how pests spread, and how to identify and report them. It is curriculum-aligned and designed specifically to build understanding and action among students. 

These initiatives give teachers and learners options ranging from classroom modules to fieldwork and leadership programmes that build long-term marine biosecurity awareness in young Kiwis.

Seaweek is on now! Check out the events calendar here