TASTER stalls, cookery demonstrations and a talk with the star of the BBC series ‘Trawlerman’ are among the attractions on the menu at a fish-themed fair taking place in Aberdeen next month.
Organised by the University of Aberdeen’s Rowett Institute, the Fish Are Friends and Food! event at Trinity Hall on 9 November will highlight how fish can be eaten sustainably and cooked simply, benefiting both our diets and the planet.
Free to attend, the event will include presentations from north-east seafood industry big fish Jimmy Buchan, famed for his appearances in the BBC documentary series; and local chef Kenny Smart, who specialises in family cooking and will give a live demonstration on tasty ways to prepare and serve easy fish-based dishes.
Baukje de Roos, Professor of Nutrition at the Rowett Institute, is hosting the event. She currently holds the position of Buckland Professor– an honorary title bestowed by the Buckland Foundation each year to celebrate the historic work of Frank Buckland and perpetuate his interests in sustainable fisheries and the importance of fish as food.
At the event, Professor de Roos will give a short version of her Buckland Lecture to highlight the important role fish plays in seafood sustainability and human health and nutrition.
“Seafood can be low-carbon, low environmental impact and a healthy source of food, providing a crucial source of protein and essential nutrients. It can also be complex, with upwards of 2,500 different species and varying production systems which make it a challenge for people to make environmentally-conscious purchases and prepare them well,” said Professor de Roos.
“To ensure healthy and sustainable food environments, it is increasingly important to understand how our diets relate to food supply chains – what is being produced, what is imported and exported, and how this relates to what we eat. We want to demystify fish and help people understand they can make simple choices that are good for them, their families and the planet.”
David Righton, Chair of the Buckland Foundation, said: “Frank Buckland was one of the first people to highlight the importance of fish in the national diet, but he also advised that production of seafood and other fish products needs to be sustainable. To that end, Buckland’s Foundation has supported efforts to improve public knowledge of fisheries and aquaculture since 1926, and we’re delighted that this year’s Buckland Professor is hosting such a wonderful Fish Are Friends and Food! event.”
Fish Are Friends and Food! takes place at Trinity Hall in Aberdeen on 9 November from 6-7.30pm. Registration is free via the Ticketsource website.
