How do you play Eco-Fish?

The best way to get to grips with anything is to do it!  

As the Ancient Chinese proverb says: I hear and I forget; I see and I remember; I do and I understand....Eco-Fish has been designed to learn by doing in the simplest way. 

The group of students are divided into at least five countries (name them after real countries or let the teams decide if they want to be the Democratic Republic of Denim or the Isle of Muppets! 

Once this is done, each country of pupils must vote for a leader, a speaker and a fisher, these roles can be swapped as the game progresses. They are given their tools and equipment to make a boat. 

Then 30 blue and 30 yellow fish along with all 15 ‘illegal' creatures are placed in the ocean (on the game board)...then they go fishing!.

For the first round fish are an ‘open access' resource.  Countries can  fish as long and as hard as they like however they may ONLY catch as many fish as will fit in their ‘boat'.  When all fishermen return to their tables the round is over.

And then...scores are added up, the second round starts....but hang on, where have all the fish gone?

It's now time to negotiate some rules of the seas!...And then the fun starts...

There are 5 ways to play the game... 

1.  Eco-Fish - the basic game

2.  Eco-Fish with chance cards

3.  Eco-Fish with added technology

4.  Skills based Eco-Fish

5.  Political and Economic Eco-Fish

The game can be played over and over again with the robust pieces. There are so many learning outcomes from the game that can be adapted as you go along.

Case studies help to bring the learning to life and allows the students to reflect the game back onto the real issues of sustainability across the world.

You have the option to purchase a huge floor mat to enable you to play the game in the theatre to see the full spectacle of the game in an arena. This enables you to play the game with up to 60 students! 

SEE THE QUICK START GUIDE FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT SETTING THE GAME UP