ESTONIA
Coronavirus situation forces postponement of fourth Open Fishing Port Day from April to autumn 2020
Kindling an interest in ďŹ sheries among children
T
he fourth Estonian Open Fishing Port Day has been postponed to autumn 2020. The precise dates will be released on the website of the Fisheries Information Centre, http://www.kalateave.ee/en, during the course of the year. This year, 20 Estonian fishing ports will open their gates to visitors. Entrance is free of charge and each port has its own programme. Visitors can meet with ichthyologists and fish chefs. The ports will organise handicraft rooms, workshops, and fish diners, and visitors can look forward to boat
rides, and live music. For children there will be fish workshops, science theatre, instructions in how to use a fishing rod, and they will even be able to experience virtual reality. The activities will keep the entire family busy for the whole day at least. The purpose of Open Fishing Port Day is to popularise fish consumption, introduce the everyday life of fishing ports, and demonstrate how fish end up on our plates – from the Baltic Sea as well as from inland waterbodies. “An average Estonian does not
visit fishing ports very often and so knows little about what is happening there. Participating in the activities of the Open Fishing Port Day may arouse an interest in fisheries among the younger generation, above all� says Toomas Armulik, Head of the Fisheries Information Centre. Visitors will have a chance to purchase and taste fresh fish and fish products and become acquainted with the work done in fishing ports. The idea is also to create direct contacts between consumers and fishermen. This should make access to
fresh fish easier for consumers and give fishermen a chance to directly market their catch. The Open Fishing Port Day has proven to be a successful initiative that attracts more visitors each year. We are expecting around 25,000 participants this year, says Mr Armulik, and hope that the weather will be with us. The 2020 Open Fishing Port Day is organised by the Ministry of Rural Affairs and the Fisheries Information Centre and funded by the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund 2014–2020.
At Open Fishing Port Day on 25 April 2020 visitors will be able to buy freshly caught and prepared fish and participate in a variety of activities. 46 XXX FVSPl TINBHB[JOF DPN