Exploring Ocean Connections Through Interactive Science with “Marine SABRES in Fairs” in Iceland
On 7 June 2026, the “Marine SABRES in Fairs” initiative took part in the Fishermen’s Day celebration (Sjómannadagurinn) in Hafnarfjörður, Iceland, contributing to a public outreach event organised by the Marine and Freshwater Research Institute (Hafrannsóknastofnun – Hafró), with the support of LifeWatch ERIC for Marine SABRES activities.
The annual celebration, deeply rooted in Iceland’s maritime culture, brought together a broad audience and offered a valuable opportunity to engage the public with marine science. In this context, Marine SABRES and the ICEWATER projects set up an interactive space dedicated to marine ecosystems, fisheries, and the relationship between people and the ocean.
Marine SABRES focused on topics such as food webs, ecosystem connectivity, fisheries, marine research, and the human dimension of marine systems, while ICEWATER highlighted coastal ecosystems and marine biodiversity. Visitors were invited to explore these themes through a combination of visual materials, informal discussions, and hands-on activities.
Throughout the day, visitors were introduced to the Marine SABRES project through presentations, visual displays, and interactive activities, including the serious game developed by LifeWatch ERIC. Participants could build marine food webs, explore fish otoliths (ear bones) used by scientists to estimate fish age, learn about cod anatomy, discover how researchers study the ocean using research vessels and scientific equipment, observe live phytoplankton through a microscope connected to a display screen, and take part in a range of hands-on activities and puzzles.
The programme also extended outdoors, where visitors could explore a fish exhibition featuring a variety of species, including crabs, cephalopods, and deep-sea organisms. Many also had the opportunity to visit Hafró’s newest research vessel, Þórunn Þórðardóttir, and learn more about marine research at sea.
The event welcomed a steady flow of visitors throughout the day, including families, students, tourists, and local residents. It provided an excellent opportunity to showcase Marine SABRES research in an accessible and interactive way, demonstrating how science communication can strengthen ocean literacy and foster dialogue between researchers and society. The combination of hands-on activities, visual storytelling, real scientific material, immersive underwater footage, and direct interaction with researchers encouraged visitors not only to learn about marine ecosystems and fisheries, but also to discuss how people, science, and the ocean are connected.
Take a look at our photogallery and relive the highlights of the day, exploring fisheries, marine ecosystems, biodiversity, and ocean research.
We would like to thank all volunteers and collaborators from the Marine and Freshwater Research Institute for their contribution to the event, and especially Sandra Rybicki for the collaboration and for providing the summary text and photographs.
For more information about the project, visit Marine SABRES official website:
www.marinesabres.eu