Celebrate World Oceans Day with DIY Sustainable Seafood Dishes

June 8 marks the first official World Oceans Day. Although the day has been celebrated ever since Canada proposed it at the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, only this year has the U.N. made an official designation on its calendar.

“Healthy oceans are critical to all life on earth, providing protein and livelihoods for more than a billion people worldwide,” said Gerald Butts, President of WWF-Canada.

“In terms of our food supply, if we don’t make serious changes, many of the species we enjoy today won’t be around for our children. More than 70 per cent of the world’s fish stocks are either fully exploited or depleted. We have no choice but to improve the way we manage our oceans.”

World Oceans Day is intended to raise awareness of what oceans mean to our lives. On June 8, World Oceans Day events will take place around the planet. In Ottawa, WWF-Canada and Fisheries & Oceans Minister
Gail Shea will be hosting an event on Parliament Hill to help make oceans matter among Canadian government policy makers.

The event will showcase sustainable Canadian seafood prepared by Ottawa chefs Kate Klenavic of Whalesbone Catering and John Taylor of Domus Café.

“We’ll be handing out recipe cards that highlight the fishery and catch method for the seafood being served,” said Butts. “These examples show that it is possible to fish, and eat, more sustainably.”

Canadians are encouraged to cook up some World Oceans Day fun of their own. WWF is providing people with two of the recipes being served at the Parliament Hill event for inspiration.

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For the recipes and colour photos of the dishes please contact:

Andrew Dumbrille, WWF-Canada, 613-290-2006, adumbrille@wwfcanada.org

To reach the chefs:

Kate Klenavic, Chef of Catering / Event Coordinator, The Whalesbone Catering, (613) 266 6743
John Taylor of Domus Café 613-241-6007, john.taylor@domuscafe.ca