Friday, May 11, 2012 Comox, BC – The BC Shellfish Festival is extremely pleased to host the Vancouver Island premiere of Shellshocked: Saving the Oceans to Save Ourselves as a fundraising event for the Vancouver Aquarium’s Ocean Wise program.
The documentary follows efforts to prevent the extinction of wild oyster reefs, which keep our oceans healthy by filtering water and engineering ecosystems. Today, because of overfishing and pollution, wild oyster reefs have been declared ‘the most severely impacted marine habitat on Earth’ and no longer play a role in their ecosystems. Now scientists, government officials, artists and environmentalists are fighting to bring oysters back to the former oyster capital of the world – New York Harbor.
“The BC Shellfish Festival is a great way for the public to connect with some of our local growers and producers of delicious sustainably raised shellfish. This movie will help people understand the urgent need to keep our oceans healthy and thriving and we’re extremely pleased to be a part of it,” said Ocean Wise program coordinator Theodora Geach.
The event will begin at 6pm at the Stan Hagen Theatre at North Island College with a raw bar and wine bar reception. The screening will begin at 7pm. Shucking oysters at the raw bar will be 2010 BC Shucking Champion Devon Shute of Avenue Bistro in Comox.
Tickets are $10 or $8 for students(with valid student card) and include two oyster tastings.
Guests can purchase more raw oysters to be enjoyed with a selection of BC wines hosted by the Courtenay VQA Wine Store who will be present to discuss oyster/wine pairings. Tickets are available at the Comox Valley Art Gallery, Courtenay VQA Wine Store or at the door. All proceeds will go the Ocean Wise program. Tickets can be shown at Avenue Bistro from June 12 through June 16 to get 15% off your food purchase.
More information about the festival and all the events taking place can be found on our website at www.bcshellfishfestival.ca, our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BCShellfishFestival and on Twitter @BCSFestival.
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More info:
Matt@bcshellfishfestival.ca
250.890.7561
