Salmon Education on the Fish-shaped Island

Sakhalin Energy Investment Company Ltd. was founded in 1994 to develop the Piltun- Astokhskoye and Lunskoye oil and gas fields off the shore of Sakhalin Island. The company was the first in Russia to start offshore hydrocarbon production from ice-resistant platforms and liquefied natural gas production. It can be justifiably proud of its achievements in the field of environmental protection and social responsibility.

Sakhalin Energy performs its operations on the territory of Sakhalin Oblast, the only insular region in Russia. Life of Sakhaliners is directly or indirectly connected to the sea and fish, and even the island itself resembles a giant fish. There is a very special place in the islanders’hearts and diet that belongs to all the different kinds of salmon: pink, red, cherry,dog, king, among others. According to estimates, salmon accounts for nearly half of the jobs of the Sakhalin rural population. Intensive forest operations,the rapid development of Sakhalin’s offshore development, and especially poaching all have an impact on environment.

Recognizing its responsibility to the society and fulfilling its commitment to develop business in a sustainable and ethical manner, Sakhalin Energy has implements programs for environmental control, monitoring, and biodiversity conservation, which are among the best practices and aimed at minimizing its impacts on the unique ecosystems of Sakhalin Island. In addition, the company has been implementing projects targeted at the conservation of salmon species and their habitats and has given special attention to educational activities.

The Sakhalin Salmon Education project has combined the efforts of two partner- Sakhalin Energy ships initiated by Sakhalin Energy: the Sakhalin Salmon Initiative and Save the Salmon Together, in addition to other environmental initiatives of the company concerning salmon species conservation.

The main objective of the Sakhalin Salmon Initiative is to contribute to the preservation and rational use of wild salmon and its ecosystem by securing the sustainable economic and social development of Sakhalin. The project of environmental education of younger generations has been successfully implemented through the Sakhalin Salmon Initiative. The project is focused on salmon – the most unique element of Sakhalin nature – and demonstrates how it is important to save salmonspawning rivers. Since 2008, more than 7,000 young people have attended summer ecological camps, festivals, and educational events related to the program.

In 2013, field eco-workshops were introduced in some Sakhalin districts. The programs were developed by teachers and volunteers of the Boomerang NGO. A School of Volunteers for teenagers and young people was developed and is focusing on salmon species. Volunteers acquire knowledge on salmon biology and behavior, conservation approaches to salmon habitats, as well as field camp training techniques.

One of the most popular programs of the project is Salmon Watch for students aged 12 to 17 and Kapelka (the Droplet) for children aged 4 to 6. The programs present the life of salmon to children. In addition, the best international practices and local community knowledge are used in the programs.

The Salmon Watch program is an adaptation of a similarly-named program in the United States developed by Oregon Trout and has been customized for the Russian educational system. The idea of the program is to acquaint students with the cultural and economic importance of the fish and to develop a responsible attitude toward the conservation of salmon biodiversity. The program includes a theoretical course, practical field work, and is designed within a supplementary education program or as a special course. Some components can also be used in local biology and ecology classes.

Within the Kapelka program, a small drop of water named Kapelka speaks about the specifics of each type of salmon, their appearance and biology, the relations between animate and inanimate nature, and human impact on the salmon population. The story is presented as a fairytale so as to make it interesting for children and easier to remember. The Class Guidelines for the teaching staff contain information on salmon as well as theory for a more detailed study of Kapelka’s story. More details and information on salmon can be obtained from the multimedia album Life of Salmon.

In 2013, both programs were examined by the Sakhalin Institute for Education Development. Based on the results, the programs were recommended for use in kindergartens and schools. Educational programs, including guidance papers and visual materials, are available at: www.sakhsalmoninitiative.org.

The Sakhalin Institute for Education Development, supported by the company, also conducted a workshop for
the teaching staff of schools and supplementary education centers. Learning about aquatic ecosystems and riparian ecology research methods, as well as teaching through games, took place outdoors.

How Ivan Saved the Wonder Fish by the Sakhalin Puppet Theatre is a new show aimed at raising environmental awareness. The fairytale about the adventures of Wonder Fish the Salmon and a young man Ivan has become a part of the theater’s repertoire. For those who cannot visit the theater, a video version of the show will be made and distributed among the schools.

A new website www.salmon-friend.ru has been launched. It offers children interactive games, quizzes, and other
materials. The site is used by teaching staff for salmon study classes. The materials can also be studied jointly by children and their parents.

• Salmon Watch and the Kapelka educational eco-programs are implemented in 63 Sakhalin schools and used in other regions of Russia.
• More than 90 teachers attended Salmon Watch and the Kapelka program workshops.
• More than 1,500 children participate in three Children’s Art Contests Live, Salmon.
• Nine Live, Salmon ecological and educational festivals were held.
• Three-day ecological and educational field workshops took place in four Sakhalin districts. The workshops were attended by 211 children aged 7 to 16.
• There were 12 showings of How Iva Saved the Wonder Fish in 2013.
• http://salmon-friend.ru website is launched.

A concerned attitude about nature is a global challenge. However, Sakhalin Energy believes that a partnership approach and education efforts with active community involvemwent can make a difference. Save the Salmon Together!