Living Coasts - full of Fantastic Fish

Torquay’s coastal zoo and aquarium is celebrating fish in all their forms this summer.

There will be looking, learning – and lunching.

The Living Coasts Fantastic Fish Festival will include cooking demos by top local chefs, trails, aquarium talks, craft activities and dive shows.

Clare Rugg: “Some fish species are part of our collection - others are food! Fish are amazing, vital, beautiful and useful. Fantastic Fish is a year-long event promoting sustainable fishing and a greater awareness of just how great fish are.”

Exhibitors from the marine world including Divers Down, Sea School, Great Escapes (Monty Halls), Devon Wildlife Trust and The Shark Trust will be providing information on our local seas.

Chefs taking part include Nicolas Legendre of Paignton Zoo and Living Coasts, formerly at The Carved Angel, Dartmouth; Simon Hulstone, chef / proprietor at The Elephant restaurant, in Torquay; Lucas and Austin from On the Rocks in Torquay; and Oliver Stacey, head chef from No 7 restaurant.

Clare: “We want to have fun, talk about sustainable fishing, highlight the need for marine conservation and raise awareness of the Big Fish campaign.”

The aim of the Big Fish Campaign is to raise awareness about the problem of aquarium fish that grow larger than the vast majority of home aquaria can accommodate, and to promote responsible buying and selling of these larger species.

The Fantastic Fish Festival, sponsored by Kingfisher Brixham, runs from Monday 28th July to Friday 1st August. For more information go to www.livingcoasts.org.uk or ring 0844 474 3366.