What happens when you put together an environmental organisation campaigning against illegal pirate fishing, a group of sustainable seafood restaurants, and the World’s oceans to protect? The Save the Sea Restaurant Campaign! Organised by the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) and carried out by some of UK’s leading restaurants in sustainability, the campaign is raising awareness and essential funds for EJF’s work to combat illegal pirate fishing, protect the marine biodiversity of our oceans, and ensure the livelihoods and food security of coastal communities.
From South Cornwall to North Scotland, from London to Sydney, restaurants are engaging with their diners throughout the month of June and July by adding a £1 donation onto every bill, or by nominating a sustainable seafood dish with £1 of the menu price being donated to EJF’s Oceans Team. Together they are celebrating our oceans, and highlighting their efforts to source fish and seafood sustainably, seasonally and ethically whilst providing the freshest and healthiest food for their diners.
Over the past two years, 43 restaurants with 32 Michelin stars between them have raised over £20,000 for EJF’s Oceans work, and this year’s Save the Sea Restaurant Campaign is supported by 53 restaurants and top chefs.
Supporting the campaign for his 2nd year in a row, Michelin-starred chef Martin Wishart said that “by supporting this campaign in my restaurants, we can help to educate the public on this pressing worldwide issue. Diners contributions are so greatly appreciated, I strongly believe this cause will help to minimise further devastation in our seas.â€
Joining also this year is chef Neil Forbes, whose  Cafe St Honore in Edinburgh has just been named the ‘Sustainable Business of the Year’ by the Catering
in Scotland Awards. Forbes said, “we at Cafe St Honore are extremely proud to be working with the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) to help raise funds for combating illegal pirate fishing and standing up for our oceans and the people whose livelihoods depend on them. We take pride in sourcing our seafood sustainably and ethically, and believe that by engaging our diners on this issue, we can help EJF in promoting sustainable fisheries nationally and globally, and in preventing the destructive impacts illegal fishing has on our seas. By talking more about the issue, and helping out where we can, together we all can help Save the Seas.”
The campaign is also on the verge of starting a new t-shirt phase in restaurants, with Australian chef Dave Pynt buying some of EJF’s organic designer t-shirts for his staff members in Singapore to wear throughout the campaign. Dave said despite his “love for pirates, this is a global issue with serious consequences. It is our duty to source our seafood sustainably and to not support destructive and irresponsible fishing practices.” The new styling at Dave’s Burnt Ends restaurant means they’ll will be seeing off the campaign in EJF-style (quit literally!). EJF Executive Director, Steve Trent, said that they are “proud to work with chefs and restaurants who are passionate about sourcing food ethically and sustainablyâ€, and who know “how important our seafood choices are in protecting ocean life and all the people whose livelihoods and food depend on itâ€.
How can diners join in to help Save the Sea? Check out a list of all the participating restaurants here, and if your favourite restaurant isn’t involved, you can make a donation directly through the Just Giving webpage – https://www.justgiving.com/ejfoundation/