Schoolchildren in Kuusamo catch and taste their own fish in push for local school meals

Schoolchildren in northern Finland caught, prepared, and tasted locally sourced fish on Wednesday as part of a project to increase fish consumption in school meals, reports Finnish broadcaster Yle.

At Nissinvaara village school in Kuusamo, students spent the day ice fishing and angling on Nissinjärvi lake before sampling dishes made from their catch. “It tastes wonderful—maybe the best thing I’ve ever eaten,” said Jasper Kurtti, 10, after trying pan-fried vendace.

The event, organised by regional development agency Naturpolis, aims to gather student feedback to develop new fish-based recipes for school kitchens. Finland’s National Institute for Health and Welfare recommends children eat fish twice weekly for its protein and healthy fats, though rising costs have recently challenged schools’ ability to meet this guideline.

Local supplier PPP Köökki currently provides fish dishes—like salmon soup and salmon pasta—to schools in Kuusamo, Taivalkoski, and Pudasjärvi, using only regional catch. Project manager Mari-Johanna Korkeela said the initiative will connect fishermen’s offerings with student preferences: “We’re mapping what products are available at the docks and what students actually want to eat. Then we’ll refine recipes with school kitchens.”

Nissinvaara’s headteacher Marko Kaakinen noted his students already embrace fish, both at home and in the cafeteria. “They’re used to eating it regularly,” he said, while students Jasper Kurtti and Tomas Kämäräinen described weekend fishing as a family routine. During the event, the group landed two pike—one weighing 4 kg—alongside perch and vendace.

Health expert Susanna Raulio emphasised the value of hands-on experiences: “When young people see how fish travels from water to plate, it encourages them to choose it more often.”