Food is one of the few things that we can all enjoy during lockdown! Many of us are really enjoying our cooking and having a little more time to spend in the kitchen gives us an opportunity to be a little more adventurous, particularly with seafood.
Award winning Cornish private chef
Ken Symons spent a day with the Cornwall Good Seafood Guide team in the kitchen just before lockdown.
Ken loves cooking with local Cornish seafood and was delighted to help with this initiative:
“This is a difficult time for chefs but I am really pleased to be able to help inspire people to give seafood a try as it is vital we keep our local fishermen fishing and we all make the most of this incredible local resource.”
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Mackerel is just beginning to come into season and line caught mackerel is about as sustainable as seafood can be”, said Cornwall Seafood Guide’s Matt Slater.
Monkfish are a popular fish which is caught in large quantities all around Cornwall. The latest scientific advice shows that the populations of this fish are very healthy and it has been on our recommended list as a sustainable option for nearly a year now” reported Matt.
Following a collapse in traditional export and restaurant markets fishermen and fish sellers are finding a surge in local appreciation for the wonderful, sustainable seafood landed in Cornwall that was previously considered a luxury that you would only eat in high-end restaurants.
Many fishermen are now selling direct, some are delivering and several of our larger fishmongers and fish wholesalers are now offering free delivery during lockdown, locally and nationwide. Our list of
seafood suppliers during coronavirus lockdown continues to expand, attracting thousands of visits since its launch on 12th March.
“It’s one of the few positives that have come out of this very difficult situation we find ourselves in,” said Matt Slater, “the public really want to help their local fishermen and we all need to eat. It makes sense to eat the wonderful fresh, local seafood landed in Cornwall, especially now it is easier than ever to get local seafood delivered to your door through our website”
There is increasing evidence that the public appreciate and want to eat Cornish sustainable seafood. Paul Trudgian owner and director of
Fish For Thought has seen his online sales for fresh fish deliveries to the public dramatically increase; “the levels of engagement, positivity and support for our business and the amazing fishermen we work with has been humbling. I am so proud of the way our customers and our team have responded to this unprecedented crisis, and I am increasingly optimistic that many more people will join our Seafood Revolution, and demand sustainable British seafood in the future.”
Rob Wing of the online seafood outlet,
The Cornish Fishmonger who has also seen online sales and deliveries to the public increase said, “it’s an honour and a privilege to be helping feed the nation during this terrible time. We are encouraged how many people are getting behind our fishing industry and we hope that people will continue to support sustainable fishing long after this coronavirus situation is over.”
Please follow Cornwall Good Seafood Guide on
Facebook,
Instagram or
Twitter to be kept up to date and visit our website to find local seafood suppliers and inspiration as well as a wealth of information on the sustainability of Cornish seafood!
Contact:
Matt Slater, Cornwall Good Seafood Guide, mobile 07917765581 email seafood@cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk
Photographs:
• Thai style monkfish Curry by Ken Symons – Photo by Mike Searle
• Pan fried mackerel fillets with Pepperonata by Ken Symons – Photo Mike Searle
• Ken Symons portrait by Mike Searle