“The Sea: A Common Good”: Slow Fish 2019 Comes to Genoa

Event program now online at https://slowfish.slowfood.it/en/

The ninth edition of Slow Fish—the international event dedicated to sustainable seafood and marine ecosystems organized by Slow Food and the Region of Liguria—will be held in Genoa’s Porto Antico, Italy, from May 9 to 12, 2019.

The theme of this edition will be The Sea: A Common Good. The sea is a source of food and natural resources, a means of transportation and a source of energy. Its stores carbon dioxide and produces oxygen. It provides livelihoods and employment, with more than 60 million people around the world working in the fisheries sector. But despite all this, unfortunately the sea is all too often taken for granted. The time has come for each one of us to act to protect it for future generations.

Among the major threats that the sea is facing are climate change and its effects; pollution from plastics, microplastics and other chemicals; the damage caused by human activities to coastal areas and natural habitats; and indiscriminate fishing putting species like bluefin tuna at risk of extinction. All of these issues, as well as the importance of the role of women in fisheries, will be addressed in debates at Slow Fish, giving the public concrete answers about what they can do to counter these problems in their daily lives, as well as how to eat seasonal seafood, which fish are healthiest, and how to choose and cook the best fish.

A hundred international delegates will come from around the Mediterranean basin (Italy, France, Malta, Morocco, Spain, Tunisia and Turkey) as well as Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Japan, Russia, South Korea, Belgium, Denmark, Norway, the UK, Ireland, and South Africa. These delegates are fishers and representatives of trade associations and local administrations, researchers and cooks, experts and communicators: the stakeholders of the sea.

This year’s Slow Fish will be full of fascinating people and their stories, like South Korea’s mermaids, women who dive down to 15 or 20 meters to fish, holding their breath for over two minutes, or the Turkish delegates of Gökova Bay who organize a food festival dedicated to the invasive species that have boosted the income of local fishing cooperatives by almost 200%.

The Slow Fish Arena will be the heart of the event; here delegates will be able to tell visitors about their work and their good practices. Italian and international chefs will be cooking at various Dinner Dates, while the Taste Workshops will explore a range of themes and sea-related products. Casa Slow Food will host an interactive exhibition with information on marine biodiversity, our food choices and climate change called Fish ‘n Tips, while Cooking Schools will feature instructors from the Slow Food Chefs’ Alliance. The Marketplace will host the producers and a Kitchen where different dishes will be on offer every day. The Piazza delle Feste will be the location for the Fucina Pizza & Pane and the Enoteca. Visitors will have the chance to discover delicious specialties in the Street Food and Food Trucks area, where they can also enjoy a selection of craft beers.

Check the Slow Fish 2019 website for regular updates.

Request press accreditation here.

For further information, please contact:

Slow Food International Press Office: Paola Nano and Giulia Capaldi

[email protected] – Tel: +39 329 8321285

Regione Liguria: Jessica Nicolini

[email protected] – Tel: +39 340 3964399

Slow Food is a global grassroots organization that envisions a world in which all people can access and enjoy food that is good for them, good for those who grow it and good for the planet. Slow Food involves over a million activists, chefs, experts, youth, farmers, fishers and academics in over 160 countries.

Slow Fish: During Slow Fish, held biennially in Genoa, Italy, academics, researchers, small-scale fishers, representatives of public bodies and enthusiasts meet to discuss sustainable fishing and production, responsible fish consumption and the health of marine and freshwater ecosystems. A large market, conferences, meetings, workshops and tasting sessions make Slow Fish a unique event entirely dedicated to the world of fish. The event takes place in odd-numbered years and is organized by Slow Food and the Region of Liguria with the patronage of the City of Genoa and Italy’s Ministry for Environment, Land and Sea Protection, with the support of the Genoa Chamber of Commerce and the participation of MIPAAF (Italy’s Ministry for Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies). Slow Fish is also made possible thanks to its many sponsors, including its Official Partners: Agugiaro & Figna Molini, BBBell, Iren, Pastificio di Martino, Quality Beer Academy and Unicredit.