Protecting a stretch of coast, safeguarding the work of fishermen, passing on local traditions. The new Sicilian Slow Food presidium is born with a triple commitment, traditional fishing in the Strait of Messina. The rich material and immaterial cultural heritage of the coast between Sicily and Calabria is a value to be protected and promoted and, with this recognition, Slow Food wants to contribute to creating social and economic value for the typical fish products of the area. The birth of this new garrison, which brings those present on the island to 57, will make it possible to promote selective and seasonal fishing which, with different techniques and tools depending on the species to be fished, takes place throughout the year in the waters that bathe the two neighboring regions, Sicily and Calabria. A first concrete step that Messina Food Policydriven by Slow Food Messina, is moving in the direction of sustainability, awareness and real recognition for the custodians of our sea.
Messina Food Policy is the table for agri-food policies born in September 2022 thanks to the commitment of the Slow Food Community for the Protection of Biodiversity of the Strait of Messina, Slow Food Sicily, the municipality of Messina and its Metropolitan City, the Chamber of Commerce of Messina and the Me.SSIn.A. Foundation, aimed at developing policies to support the ecological transition, recognizing food as a transversal element for change, as well as fundamental for promoting sustainable tourism that looks at producers as custodians of the territories. The recognition of the Slow Food presidium also has the objective of encouraging the opening of new business opportunitiessuch as the promotion of fishing tourism, which can represent an important element of diversification in support of fishermen’s activities.
“A party to build ties and connections to protect, safeguard and enhance the entire area of the Strait of Messina – he states Nino Mostaccio President Slow Food Messina – a stretch of sea that unites Sicily and Calabria, two lands that have many elements of contact, not only with each other, but with the entire Mediterranean. There where the Ionian and Tyrrhenian Sea merge and contaminate each other, a bridge already exists, but one made up of ‘shared’ biodiversity, of intertwined and overlapping cultures, of exchanges and dialogues, an immaterial bridge that must be protected and saved together with the peculiarity of this splendid stretch of coast”. The presentation of the Presidium, which will be an opportunity to transform Messina into a place of meeting and discussion, will be held in one of the most fascinating places in the city, the historic building of Monte di Pietà where, from 17 to 19 May, it will be set up a thematic exhibition and period and contemporary documentaries dedicated to the rites of traditional fishing on the Strait of Messina will be screened. Three days of food and wine events, round tables, forums and taste workshops on traditional fishing in the Strait of Messina, to promote a new model of food policies capable of starting development paths for the territory, with events aimed not only at sector operators but to all citizens interested in sustainable living. Numerous guests are also expected from various Italian cities and some countries in the Mediterranean area, who will enliven the thematic forums and tasting stands where the local catch will be cooked according to the different Mediterranean cultures.
