Globally Acclaimed Chefs Unite to “SAVE THE OCEANS: FEED THE WORLD”
Press Release Date: February 4, 2015
Location: Madrid
Contact:
Anna Baxter | email: abaxter@oceana.org
Anna Baxter
Twenty chefs from some of the world’s best restaurants are set to publically announce their commitment to OCEANA’s global campaign, Save the Oceans: Feed the World. The official launch will take place in San Sebastian, Spain, on Tuesday 17th of March 2015, at an exclusive event to be held at the Basque Culinary Centre.
Hosted by chefs Andoni Luiz Aduriz of Mugaritz and Joan Roca of El Celler de Can Roca – Spain, the attending chefs will be: Ferran Adrià (elBulli Foundation, Spain); Massimo Bottura (Osteria Francescana, Italy); Daniel Humm (Eleven Madison Park, USA); Ashley Palmer-Watts (Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, UK); Alex Atala (D.O.M., Brazil); Juan Mari and Elena Arzak (Arzak, Spain), Pedro Subijana (Akela?e, Spain); Grant Achatz (Alinea, USA); Brett Graham (The Ledbury, UK); Joachim Wissler (Vendôme, Germany); Heinz Reitbauer (Steirereck, Austria); Gastón Acurio (Astrid y Gastón, Peru); Enrique Olvera (Pujol, Mexico); Rodolfo Guzmán (Boragó, Chile); Normand Laprise (Toqué, Canada); José Luis González (Gallery Vask, Philippines); René Redzepi (Noma, Denmark) who will be unable to attend the event in San Sebastian on March 17, but has also pledged his support for the campaign.
“It is truly amazing“ noted Chef Aduriz, “that so many prominent chefs who are so hectically busy, are coming to San Sebastian on March 17. Chefs feel passionately about the importance of wild seafood, not just on the small scale and what it brings to our kitchens, but also because of its importance to the planet. I think we all just deeply feel the need to support this campaign and help make the oceans abundant again.”
Oceana is campaigning worldwide to save the oceans and feed the world. Scientists have documented the decline of wild fishing stocks in the global oceans. But, the good news is that just 30 countries control over 90 percent of all the seafood caught in the world. Oceana and its allies are already winning policy victories in many of these countries. The group estimates that if proven policy changes that stop overfishing, limit bycatch and protect habitat are passed in the top seafood countries, there would be enough seafood to provide one billion people a healthy seafood meal each day.
“We are incredibly grateful that so many culinary superstars are coming together to announce their support for policy change that can help to restore the world’s oceans”, said Oceana CEO Andrew F. Sharpless, “We believe they can help to make a huge difference for Oceana’s campaigns and the hundreds of millions of people who depend on the world’s oceans for their sustenance.”
Sharpless and Oceana will release a special digital edition of his book “The Perfect Protein” on the occasion of the event that will also include sustainable seafood recipes from participating chefs. The book – which for the first time will be translated into Spanish, Portuguese and German – will be available for sale via Amazon in countries around the world.
The event will open with the premiere screening of the short film documentary “The Perfect Protein” by Jorge Martínez, featuring the chefs discussing their support of ocean conservation and passion for the sea and its seafood. This will be followed by remarks by Mr. Sharpless. Mr. Sharpless will speak on how ocean conservation is uniquely positioned to increase biodiversity and abundance ultimately resulting in more seafood to help feed the world. The chefs and Sharpless will then participate in an open Q&A with attending journalists and audience.
The day before the screening, the chefs will attend Fish School: an hour-long seminar given by Andy Sharpless on the condition of the world’s seas and how they can be made abundant once again.
For more information about the event and a preview of the documentary, please visit perfectprotein.oceana.org
End.
Notes to the editor
- Oceana is the largest international advocacy organization focused solely on ocean conservation. We run science-based campaigns and seek to win policy victories that can restore ocean biodiversity and ensure that the oceans are abundant and can feed hundreds of millions of people. Oceana victories have already helped to create policies that could increase fish populations in its countries by as much as 40 percent and that have protected more than one million square miles of ocean. We have campaign offices in the countries that control close to 25 percent of the world’s wild fish catch, including in North, South and Central America, Asia, and Europe. To learn more, please visit www.oceana.org
- The Basque Culinary Center: www.bculinary.com
