For millennia, the oceans have been a source of life, mystery, and endless possibilities. They connect cultures, sustain economies, and support an extraordinary web of marine creatures. But today, the balance of the seas is at risk. Climate change, pollution, overfishing, and habitat destruction continue to threaten their fragile ecosystems.
In Pillars of the Sea, players step into the shoes of a character who relies on and protects the ocean—scientists, fishers, policymakers, activists, and coastal communities. Each character faces their own challenges, but all share a common goal: finding solutions with the ultimate goal of protecting marine biodiversity.
Every decision can tip the scales—will your team rise to the challenge and keep the balance of the sea? Remember: every choice has consequences and players must work together to create a sustainable future.
Who can play?
- Number of players: 3 to 6
- Age: 12+
- No knowledge of marine & maritime science is required. Learn as you play!
Duration: 45 to 60 minutes
Download, print, cut and play!
Click the links below to access all game components in PDF format:
- Printing guidelines
- Rules booklet
- Answer booklet
- Character cards: minimal printing guidelines or blue guidelines
- Game board and puzzle: minimal printing guidelines or blue guidelines
- Quest cards and Tide Turn cards: minimal printing guidelines or blue guidelines
Credit:
This game was developed as part of the Mr.Goodfish3.0 project funded under the European Union’s research & innovation programme Horizon Europe and the EU Mission “Restore our Oceans & Waters” which aspires to protect and restore the health of European oceans and freshwaters through research & innovation, citizen engagement and investments in the blue economy, with a 2030 target.
The game is part of the Mr.Goodfish3.0 awareness-raising campaign for responsible consumption of sea, freshwater and aquaculture products. Our campaign will propose other materials to raise awareness among citizens, youth, children and seafood professionals.
In particular, we will upgrade the existing Mr.Goodfish app with new recommendations of seafood species from all over Europe to encourage a more balanced & responsible consumption of products from the sea.
Do you want to be part of the campaign? Contact our project’s communication manager, Clara Boissenin at cboissenin@ecsite.eu
Licence: CC-BY-SA
Design: Citynova
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
References
- SeaChoice. Atlantic Cod.
- Stony Brook University News. Kelp Can Reduce Ocean Acidification and Protect Bivalves.
- European Parliament. The Common Fisheries Policy: A Review of Its Operation and Effectiveness.
- OSPAR Commission. Protecting and Conserving the North-East Atlantic and Its Resources.
- BBC News. North Sea Cod No Longer Sustainable, Say Conservationists.
- Springer. Climate Change Effects on Marine Ecosystems.
- World Wildlife Fund (WWF). Effect of Climate Change on Arctic Fish.
- Eco Magazine. Fish Species That Move Toward the Poles Due to Global Warming Decline in Abundance.
- PAME (Protection of the Arctic Marine Environment). Marine Invasive Alien Species in Arctic Waters.
- Arctic Focus. How Climate Change Will Affect Seafood Production in the Arctic.
- Climate-ADAPT (European Environment Agency). Preventing Lionfish Invasion in Cyprus Through Early Response and Targeted Removal.
- Nature. Ocean Warming Threatens Global Fisheries.
- ScienceDirect. Marine Pollution and Ecosystem Impacts.
- WWF. Seafood and the Mediterranean: Promoting Sustainable Consumption.
- European Parliament Research Service. Overfishing and the Common Fisheries Policy.
- EOS. Toxic Metal on the Rise in the Baltic Sea.
- European Environment Agency (EEA). Underwater Noise Pollution in Europe’s Seas.
- ScienceDirect. Marine Pollution Bulletin – Recent Studies.
- van der Knaap, I. et al. Behavioural Responses of Wild Pacific Salmon and Herring to Boat Noise. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 174, 113257.
- HELCOM. State of the Baltic Sea – Eutrophication.
- European Parliament Research Service. Environmental Challenges in the EU Maritime Sector.
- Oceana Europe. Fisheries Management in the Baltic Sea: How to Get on Track to a Sustainable Future.
- FAO. The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2014.
- FAO – GFCM. Tackling Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing in the Mediterranean and Black Sea.
- Hürriyet Daily News. Fish Species Declining as Black Sea Gets Warmer.
- Eurofish. Rapana: The Predatory and Highly Invasive Marine Snail.
- Sciendo. Distribution and Ecology of Rapana Venosa in the Black Sea.
