29.08.06
Local chefs hook big crowds at fish festival

Seafood Cornwall's stand at the Newlyn Fish Festival on Bank Holiday Monday attracted large crowds throughout the day with a new line in 'info-tainment'. During the morning an interested and knowledgeable crowd heard informative presentations explaining the 'net-to-plate' story which started with a presentation on all of the different fishing gears from Andy Wheeler of the Cornish FPO. A fish filleting demo from auctioneer Robin Turner and crab-picking demonstration by staff from W Harvey and Sons followed. A growing festival crowd were then treated to an entertaining afternoon cookery 'master class' as a team of local Chefs, including: Keir Meikle, Head Chef of the Navy Inn in Penzance and his team of Jay Orrey, Jacob Finnis, guest chef Matthew Barnicoat and also Des Turland, Head Chef from the Royal Duchy Hotel in Falmouth cooked over 20 dishes with local fish in three hours.

Many of the recipes featured Pollack and Megrim in an attempt to raise the profile of these regional specialities which not only taste great but are available in abundance. "We believe that Pollack is one of our best kept secrets and our expert chefs proved this as people were clamouring for seconds," said Seafood Cornwall project director, Nathan de Rozarieux.

With an annual catch in excess of 1000 tonnes, worth approx £2m in 2005, Pollack is particularly important to Newlyn which remains the UK's premier port for Pollack. However, less than a third of the Pollack landed in Newlyn stays in the UK. Seafood Cornwall is working with local fishermen and merchants to help increase this figure.

"We know that supermarket buyers and restaurateurs are always looking for new product lines so we hope that by whetting people's appetite they will go back home and ask for Pollack at their local fish shop, supermarket, restaurant or even buy on-line," said Mr de Rozarieux.

For further information please contact Nathan de Rozarieux on 01736 874304 or e-mail: nathan@seafoodcornwall.org.uk or visit www.seafoodcornwall.org.uk.

The Objective One Programme for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly has invested in Seafood Cornwall through the Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance (FIFG).

Editor's notes:

Seafood Cornwall is an organisation that brings together key players from the Cornish fishing industry with the aim of changing consumer eating habits through raising awareness of lesser known varieties of fish such as megrim, sardines and Spider Crab that are available in abundance off the Cornish coast.

Seafood Cornwall works with retailers and restaurants to promote the quality, abundance and diversity of Seafood landed in Cornwall.

Seafood Cornwall has launched a quality award schemes for fishing vessels and fish processors to recognise high standards of fish quality being landed.

Seafood Cornwall, an Objective One Fisheries Programme project, offers advice to industry on fish quality issues and is working to improve marketing and promotion of fish and seafood. Seafood Cornwall is based at the Cornwall Fisheries Resource Centre, 78b The Strand, Newlyn, contact Nathan de Rozarieux, 01736 874304. For more information about the project visit www.seafoodcornwall.org.uk.

Clare Morgan
Media Relations Manager
Objective One Partnership Office
Castle House
Pydar Street
Truro TR1 2UD
Mobile: 07973 813647
Telephone: 01872 223439

cmorgan@cornwall.gov.uk

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