Raymond Blanc announces fish focus for this year's Sustainable City Awards

A competition to find the UK’s most forward thinking restaurant or caterer for sustainable fish was launched today. The City of London Corporation (1) has teamed up with Raymond Blanc (2), Sustainable Fish City (3), the Fishmongers' Company (4) and SeaWeb Seafood Choices (5) as part of the prestigious Sustainable City Awards.

Announcing the competition Raymond said, “Good ethics should be part of everyday business. The focus of this year’s prestigious award is on sustainable fish. This is a chance for the restaurants and caterers of this country to shout about what they are doing to protect our precious marine resources, get rightful recognition and inspire others. We will be looking for entrants that set clear guidelines on what they will and will not serve and demonstrate passion for this subject.”

The winner of last year’s award, which looked at all aspects of food sustainability, was Café Spice Namaste (6). Chef Cyrus Todiwala who also celebrated a double victory by scooping the Leadership in Sustainability award commented, “It was fantastic to win the last year’s awards, and the coverage of the beliefs that underpin our business was good news. I am delighted that this year the focus will be on fish. By buying sustainable fish, restaurants will be playing their part in preventing the seas from being over-fished.”

Sustainable Fish City is a campaign inspired by the London 2012 Food Vision, working to help London's shops, caterers and restaurants serve only sustainable fish. This follows the commitment by the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games caterers to serve only sustainable fish at the London 2012 Games.

Register for entry now by contacting Sustainable Fish City at jon@sustainweb.org or on 0203 5596 777 and ask for Jon Walker.

Notes

1. The City of London provides local government services for the financial and commercial heart of Britain, the 'Square Mile'. It is committed to supporting and promoting 'The City' as the world leader in international finance and business services through the policies it pursues and the high standard of services it provides. Its responsibilities extend far beyond the City boundaries in that it also provides a host of additional facilities for the benefit of the nation. See more at: www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/corporation. See more about the Sustainable City Awards at: www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/sca
2. Raymond Blanc, chef-patron of Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, is an ambassador for the Sustainable Fish City campaign.
3. The Sustainable Fish City campaign was launched in January 2011, and has already received sustainable fish pledges from 14 London universities, the National Trust, the SEALIFE London Aquarium, top restaurants and leading caterers. This followed the adoption by the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games of a fully sustainable fish policy, and the adoption by the GLA Group (Metropolitan Police, Transport for London, London Fire Brigade and the Greater London Authority – City Hall) of the London 2012 Food Vision, which includes a commitment to using sustainable fish. For further details of pledge signatories, see: https://www.sustainweb.org/sustainablefishcity/whos_working_on_it/
4. The Fishmongers’ Company is one of the Twelve Great Livery Companies of the City of London, and among the most ancient of the City Guilds. For over 700 years, as well as fostering the fellowship among our members, it has upheld standards in the trading of fish and shellfish and supported the fisheries industry.
5. SeaWeb Seafood Choices is an international program that provides leadership and creates opportunities for change across the seafood industry and ocean conservation community. In the UK they also run the specialist initiative for chefs to learn about fish sustainability www.goodcatch.org.uk
6. See details of the 2010 Sustainable City Awards on the City of London website.