Questionnaires at the Fisheries Academies showed that improvement could be made by introducing nature and environmental care in the fisheries. When funds from oil revenues became available for environmental purposes, Ecomare got the opportunity to set up the project 'Fishery Education' in close cooperation with Productschap Vis (organization that represents all of the fisheries). In the meantime, a new method was developed for this field, 'Fishing with a future'. In addition to Ecomare and Productschap Vis, several other Dutch organizations were also involved. The method uses so-called training days, where marine ecology is brought to life. The basic material of the method sinks in better and the students are challenged to participate in sustainability discussions.
Ecomare plays an important role in setting up the practical days for the nautical students as well as the fishery students. The courses are continually being adapted to present developments. In the meantime (2008), all Dutch fishery and nautical academies participated and the course has even been given outside of the country since a number of years now.
In 2004, the Ministry for Public Transportation, KVNR and FWZ decided that the program for marine environmental science and sustainability is important and must be continued in the form of a three-day class, to be given to all nautical students in the Netherlands. Based upon past experience, ProSea developed such a program in 2005 and the first two courses were given in the Netherlands in 2006. In the framework of internationally increasing attention for Marine Awareness and the possible insertion in the revised STCW Code, the Ministry of Public Transportation has given ProSea the task of offering all nautical academies a course as of 2007/2008 through 2010/2011.
