Campbeltown Grammar pupils take to the waves for marine science project

The project began with the students learning the ropes of marine data collection. Under the guidance of biology teacher Amanda Orr and project partners, the pupils constructed small nets designed to attract the shrimp for study.

After a safety briefing at Campbeltown Marina with skipper Mark Laird, the team donned life-jackets and boarded the Mowi Challenger.

The vessel, a twin-hull craft equipped with an outdoor power washer and a covered control room, provided the perfect platform for the young scientists to carry out their fieldwork.

While low tide prevented the team from reaching their intended deployment sites, the students didn’t let the “choppy” conditions near Davaar Lighthouse dampen their spirits as they enjoyed a scenic tour of the loch.

The group used the time to scout alternative locations, ensuring future outings would be even more efficient. 

Once back in calmer waters, the pupils split into two teams, taking it in turns to successfully deploy weighted nets using figure-eight knots, and use portable refractometers to measure sea temperature and salinity, while the others remained on board the Challenger, asking questions and enjoying tea cakes.

“Once both teams regrouped, we expressed our gratitude to everyone involved and left the marina, where we were treated to cake before returning to school,” the pupils noted in their collective report of the day.

A spokesperson for the school thanked Mowi, SAMS and Kintyre Seasports for providing the equipment and expertise necessary to help bring the curriculum to life. 

The project will continue over the coming weeks as other student groups head out to gather further data on the invasive shrimp.