London sushi serves up endangered species

Nobu restaurant in London's Mayfair is serving up the endangered species northern bluefin tuna to its 'A' listed customers, according to Greenpeace DNA testing.

The tests revealed that the endangered species is being routinely served up in all three of Nobu's London eateries, two of which are Michelin-starred, explained the data analysis contributed by the conservation organisation WWF.

 

Greenpeace investigations have established that Nobu's supplier in London, a company named Atari-Ya, source bluefin from the Mediterranean.

 

Greenpeace is calling for a global network of fully-protected marine reserves covering 40% of our oceans as a way to protect marine life and to allow commercially important fish species to recover and thrive.

 

Chef Gordon Ramsay said he would remove bluefin tuna from menus at his restaurants in Chelsea and Claridge's, and Moshi Moshi has also stopped serving bluefin in direct response to the situation of tuna stocks in the Mediterranean.

 

And it was only last week that Hakkasan, one of the most talked about restaurants in London, removed its signature shark fin soup from its menu.

 

Campaign director at Bite-Back Graham Buckingham explained why protesters are claiming Hakkasan's move as a victory for them: "This victory for the seas send out a determined and resolute message to the restaurant world. Sell shark-fin soup and be damned. The only reason shark populations are facing extinction is because of retail and consumer demand. Remove that demand and the shark fishing trade will collapse."

 

Hakkasan, which is run by acclaimed chef Alan Yau, said there were many reasons the £40-a-bowl dish was removed from the menu but added that they wouldn't be giving any further reasons as to why.

 

Words: Maria Bracken

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