The official launch will take place in San Sebastian, Spain, on Tuesday 17 March 2015, at an exclusive event to be held at the Basque Culinary Centre.
Hosted by chefs Andoni Luis 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 per cent 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 who 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 Mr Sharpless will then participate in an open Q&A with attending journalists and audience.
For more information about the event and a preview of the documentary, please visit perfectprotein.oceana.org
