The sea belongs to everyone, the chef’s word of honour

The chefs of Relais & Chateaux, the most prestigious Association of restaurateurs and hoteliers in the world, have decided to personally commit themselves in protecting the sea, which they define as “the largest pantry of humanity”. According to what scientists and most important international experts say - read the notice of the prestigious Association with offices in Boulevard Malesherbes in Paris - between 2040 and 2050, the oceans risk to be without life if we continue to wildly exploit its resources. The catering world can do a lot to change this situation if we consider that almost half of the caught fish in Europe is consumed in restaurants. That is why, during the Association congress that took place last 17th November, they approved a “Manifesto for the defence of the sea” that commits all members in following a few fundamental principles.
 
Starting from the awareness of ichthyic resource scarcity and the role they can have as professionals within the top catering industry and buyers of sea products, the members of the  Relais & Chateaux commit themselves in supporting suppliers who practise sustainable fishing  and respect the needs of the environment and do not affect the reproductive capacities of caught species (starting with good storage conditions to avoid waste, the observation of the minimum dimensions of the caught fish that should have already reached their sexual maturity and to the use of non-invasive fishing techniques).
 
Furthermore, Relais & Chateaux members commit themselves in communicating their choices to their customers (by informing them about the origin of the species they propose in their dishes). They also commit themselves to not offer new dishes that include the use of endangered and/or rare species. In the event that these species are used in dishes offered by the present menus, these dishes should be progressively taken off the menus during 2010. A specific point of the Manifesto is dedicated to the critical situation of the bluefin tuna (both the Atlantic tuna and the one caught in the Mediterranean). This species is endangered and, for this reason, beginning 1st January 2010, bluefin tuna will no longer be offered in Relais & Chateaux restaurants.
 
Moreover, the Relais & Châteaux Association acknowledges that its members can have an important role in communicating a correct approach to environmental problems of the sea and in helping preserve natural resources by keeping great care in choosing the species they buy and use in their restaurant dishes. That is why the Association has been cooperating for some time with Seafood Choices Alliance, an international ONG in the sector of the sustainable supplying of ichthyic products.
 
The Relais & Châteaux Association was born in France in 1954 and gathers 475 among the most prestigious hotels and restaurants in the world, many of them are also members of Le Soste.
The text (in French) of the Manifesto for the defence of the sea.
The list of the Italian Relais & Châteaux.