The Government of Nova Scotia has launched a new educational initiative designed to introduce secondary school students to careers in the province’s seafood sector.
The Coast to Classroom programme was announced by Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister Kent Smith at Shelburne Regional High School on Tuesday. The resources will be made available to schools across the province from the start of the upcoming academic year.
The programme provides curriculum-linked teaching materials for students in grades 7 to 12 and can be used across more than 100 courses in Nova Scotia’s public school system.
According to the province, the materials include lesson plans, classroom activities and virtual learning tools covering fisheries, aquaculture, marine ecosystems, seafood supply chains and ocean-related careers.
“Programs like Coast to Classroom help youth explore opportunities in our seafood sector. They build skills, introduce students to career paths and deepen understanding of the important role coastal communities play in our province,” said Smith.
Students may also participate in virtual visits to aquaculture and seafood processing facilities and explore how seafood products move from harvest to market.
The programme was developed in collaboration with the Centre for Marine Applied Research and is already being used through the Local Industries 11 pilot course at Shelburne Regional High School and Barrington Municipal High School.
Nova Scotia’s seafood sector directly employs nearly 19,000 people in rural and coastal communities. The province’s seafood exports were valued at approximately CAD 2.2 billion (€1.4 billion) in 2025, according to government figures.
Provincial officials said the initiative is intended to strengthen awareness of career opportunities in fisheries, aquaculture, seafood processing and ocean technology while supporting workforce development in coastal industries.
