Reclaiming Waters Through Education: Two Years of Learning, Exploration & Community Engagement
How Healthy Seas empowered more than 1235 students and young professionals across Europe to understand the challenges of aquaculture, abandoned fish farms, and marine restoration.
Over the past two years, Healthy Seas has expanded the educational dimension of the Ghost Farms – Reclaiming Waters project, bringing the realities of abandoned fish farms, marine litter, and sustainable aquaculture directly to students—from young children discovering the ocean outdoors to university students and industry professionals shaping the future of the sector.
Our goal has been simple: to turn an often-overlooked environmental issues into a learning opportunity that empowers communities, inspires responsibility, and sparks new ideas for the future of aquaculture.
Since its launch, the Ghost Farms – Reclaiming Waters program has been supported by our long-standing partner Hyundai Motor, whose commitment has enabled Healthy Seas to scale the project, strengthen its educational dimension, and bring this issue to communities, students and international forums across Europe.
Outdoor Learning Where Change Begins
The program first began in 2024 in the communities where Ghost Farms cleanups take place. Outdoor activities were designed for primary schools in Nafpaktos, Amphilochia and Astakos, allowing children to explore marine ecosystems, learn about the impacts of abandoned fish farms, and understand how their coastal landscapes were being restored.
In 2025, this effort expanded to Methana, where all the children of the local kindergarten and primary school joined a hands-on activity focused on marine litter, nature connection, and ocean conservation. Organized in collaboration with the European Outdoor Education Hub, the activity helped reinforce that environmental restoration is not only about removing waste—it is about cultivating a new relationship with nature from an early age.
In total, across 2024 and 2025, Healthy Seas engaged 225 children through outdoor education in communities directly affected by abandoned aquaculture sites.
Training the Next Generation of Aquaculture and Agriculture Professionals
In January 2024, the educational journey of the Ghost Farms project also began on an international stage at boot Düsseldorf, the world’s largest yacht and watersports show. Our team delivered two presentations dedicated to abandoned fish farms engaging a curious and highly participative audience. The conversations continued at our booth throughout the fair, where visitors—from water enthusiasts to sector professionals—joined discussions focused on marine litter, responsible aquaculture, and the importance of education in protecting coastal ecosystems.
The Ghost Farms project also opened a valuable platform for deeper academic engagement. Since 2024, Healthy Seas has run workshops for university students of aquaculture and agriculture, sharing:
- the environmental challenges of fish farming related to waste management
- case studies of abandoned fish farms
- insights from cleanup operations at four sites since 2021
These sessions offered students a rare, real-world view of how aquaculture interacts with marine ecosystems—and how industry practices can evolve.
In 2025, the program expanded beyond Greece to reach universities and institutions in Italy, Spain, Germany, and the UK, engaging students from diverse academic backgrounds and national contexts.
The year also included participation in two major sector events:
- 1st Greek Scientific Conference in Aquaculture (ELESY)
- Aquaculture Europe, the continent’s most important aquaculture conference and tradeshow
These events allowed Healthy Seas to share field insights with policymakers, researchers, and industry leaders, highlighting the urgent need for better monitoring, prevention, and end-of-life solutions for aquaculture installations.
These workshops were developed and led by Christina Zantioti, MSc., PhD Candidate at the Agricultural University of Athens, whose expertise in aquaculture and environmental management has shaped the scientific foundation of the program.
Over two years, a total of 1010 university students and young professionals were involved, building a growing community of practitioners educated on the risks of abandoned facilities and inspired to drive change in their fields.
A Two-Year Snapshot: Learning, Impact, and Collaboration
Between 2024 and 2025, the Ghost Farms education program reached:
- 225 children from four coastal communities through outdoor education
- 1010 university students and young professionals from five countries
- 9 education events in 2025 across Greece, Italy, Spain, Germany, and the UK
- Engagement in major aquaculture sector conferences, strengthening the bridge between science, education, and field operations
At the heart of these activities lies one mission: transforming the lessons learned from abandoned fish farms into opportunities for knowledge, awareness, and long-term change.
As the Reclaiming Waters project continues, Healthy Seas remains committed to combining scientific expertise, community engagement, and practical education to nurture a new generation that understands both the challenges and the possibilities of responsible aquaculture.
