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May 14, 2012

Come dine with us

By EJF Staff

In celebration of World Oceans Day and the Rio+20 UN Conference on Sustainable Development the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) has partnered with a roll call of the UK’s top chefs and restaurants to end ‘pirate’ fishing – for good.Throughout the country, thirteen well respected restaurants are asking their guests to donate £1 to help protect our global seas and oceans by eating sustainable fish throughout June.

Racking up eight Michelin stars between them the supporters of EJF’s campaign include Tom Aikens, Andrew Fairlie, Marcus Wareing, Nuno Mendes, The Wright Brothers (Soho & Borough), Tom Kitchin, Pascal Aussignac, Anna Hansen, River Cottage canteen and deli’s (Axminster & Plymouth) Café Fish and The Duke of Cambridge.

All donations go the Environmental Justice Foundation’s international campaign eradicating illegal - pirate - fishing.

For hundreds of millions of people around the world, the oceans provide a crucial source of food security and livelihoods. Yet as global demand for seafood increases, the depletion of fish stocks presents a formidable threat to coastal communities in some of the world’s poorest and most vulnerable countries.By ignoring fisheries laws in protected areas and by using banned fishing gears including drift nets ‘pirate’ fishing vessels are destroying habitats and marine wildlife, including endangered turtles, whales, dolphins, seabirds and sharks. Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) ‘pirate’ fishing poses one of the most severe challenges to the future protection of our oceans.

EJF believes it doesn’t have to be this way and this June is your chance to help ‘Save the Sea’. Dining in the participating restaurants will help EJF investigate and document the impact of illegal fishing on remote marginalised fishing communities around the world. To provide film and advocacy training to our local grassroots partners in West Africa, building their capacity to preserve and protect their way of life, food security and livelihoods. We are also accepting Text donations. Simply text: “CHEF00£5” to 70070 to donate £5.00 to EJF’s unique work in West Africa, protecting people and planet.

Our supporters say:

“EJF is an exemplary steward of our oceans; the work it has done at community level to gather information about IUU fishing is results-oriented and has been documented and broadcast in the international news media. EJF is also a leader in galvanizing support for initiatives under consideration by the international community to combat IUU fishing, such as strengthening flag State responsibility over fishing vessels” Judith Swan, Director of World Oceans Day founding team at the Rio Earth Summit (1992)
“One of the reasons why we are supporting the EJF is to stop the huge profits made through illegally caught fish.” Tom Aikens
“We are delighted to be supporting such a worthy campaign addressing the critical issue of sustainability and help the survival of the local fisherman whose lives and survival is threatened by the irresponsibility of these factory ships.” Robin Hancock, Owner of The Wright Brothers (participating restaurants Soho Oyster House and Oyster & Porter House, Borough)
“EJF have always been at the forefront fish issues. They highlight crucial problems that often seemed to be ignored by others. I have been operating a sustainable fish policy for 13 years and have referenced their crucial work over and over again.” Geetie Singh at The Duke of Cambridge

If you would like to support our participating restaurants please visit:

LONDON:

REST OF THE UK:

River Cottage,( River Cottage Deli & Canteen Axminster & Plymouth) http://www.rivercottage.net

SCOTLAND:

Andrew Fairlie - www.andrewfairlie.co.uk,

The Kitchin - www.thekitchin.com,

Café Fish - http://www.cafefish.net