Dive into marine science through EcoScope’s Aegean Sea edition of Fish’N’Ships

What do fishing, fun, and the future of our seas have in common? They all come together in Fish’N’Ships,  a fast-paced, educational card game that makes learning about marine ecosystems and sustainable fishing as engaging as a game night with friends.

Now, the EU-funded EcoScope project, has launched a special Aegean edition. Co-designed with marine scientists and educators, the new version is tailored to the unique species, fisheries, and challenges of the Aegean Sea. 

The introduction of the new game is in line with EcoScope’s commitment to helping people understand the complex decisions involved in managing our seas. By playing the new game can be done in a way that’s fun, accessible, and rooted in local knowledge.

The Aegean edition, which is available in English and Greek, features region-specific species like sardines, red mullet, and dusky groupers, alongside real-world fishing gear used in local waters. Players take on the role of fishers, scientists, or policymakers, balancing environmental, social, and economic factors to build thriving fisheries. In doing so, they face the same kinds of trade-offs that shape marine policy today.

In a recent blog post, titled “Fish’N’Ships Comes to the Aegean Sea”, Dr Donna Dimarchopoulou, who was part of the team developing the game described the game development process. The EcoScope version of the game was developed by a team including project Coordinator Prof. Athanassios C. Tsikliras, Dr Donna Dimarchopoulou and Dr Ioannis Keramidas from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki , together with Diego Manna and Dr. Simone Libralato. The gameplay is grounded in the Ecopath food web model that was developed for the Aegean Sea in 2022  bringing real ecological data to life through interactive play. 

“If you’re a student, educator, marine enthusiast, or simply love games that challenge you to think critically about the environment, Fish n’ Ships Aegean Sea offers a unique and meaningful way to explore sustainable ocean management—one card at a time,” Donna wrote.

The game is more than just entertainment, it’s a learning tool that promotes curiosity, systems thinking, and dialogue about the future of our oceans. As with all EcoScope outreach, the aim is to support ecocentric fisheries management by making science and policy more accessible to everyone, not just experts.

To view the game click here.