Vienna: Austrian public broadcaster ORF has been forced to apologize for frying dishes. Fish species in danger of extinction during cooking show After a wave of criticism led by angry fishermen.
On the show, which aired last week, the chef shared a Lenten-friendly recipe featuring fried fish and a roux-based potato salad.
But fishermen gasped when they discovered that the critically endangered Frauennerfling fish, which has been on the red list of endangered species in Austria since 2002, was in the frying pan.
Several fishermen then alerted the Austrian Fisheries Association.
“We filed a complaint earlier this week against unidentified individuals” on charges of fishing for endangered species native to the Danube River and nearby waterways, Gregor Grabogle, director of the Lower Austrian Fisheries Association, told AFP on Friday.
The fish, whose scientific name is Rutilus pigus, is at risk of extinction in the wild due to rising water temperatures and construction along the Danube River, Gravogl said.
He added: “This is a very sad incident that I have not yet encountered in my career.”
Earlier this week, Austria's public broadcaster apologized for “cooking fish that is protected all year round,” adding that it had had access to “different information.”
The chef at an upmarket restaurant said he was “really sorry” about the incident, adding that he “asked a friend to buy me some fish” after being asked to appear on the show at the last minute.
“It was a series of unfortunate events because I trusted my friend who had a license to fish for the species involved and thought this fish was also included,” he told AFP by phone.
They both had sleepless nights, and the chef was worried that his restaurant, located in a national park, could suffer serious losses.
The recipe is still available online, but it only states that the pieces of fish fillet to be used must be “from trusted fishermen.”
On the show, which aired last week, the chef shared a Lenten-friendly recipe featuring fried fish and a roux-based potato salad.
But fishermen gasped when they discovered that the critically endangered Frauennerfling fish, which has been on the red list of endangered species in Austria since 2002, was in the frying pan.
Several fishermen then alerted the Austrian Fisheries Association.
“We filed a complaint earlier this week against unidentified individuals” on charges of fishing for endangered species native to the Danube River and nearby waterways, Gregor Grabogle, director of the Lower Austrian Fisheries Association, told AFP on Friday.
The fish, whose scientific name is Rutilus pigus, is at risk of extinction in the wild due to rising water temperatures and construction along the Danube River, Gravogl said.
He added: “This is a very sad incident that I have not yet encountered in my career.”
Earlier this week, Austria's public broadcaster apologized for “cooking fish that is protected all year round,” adding that it had had access to “different information.”
The chef at an upmarket restaurant said he was “really sorry” about the incident, adding that he “asked a friend to buy me some fish” after being asked to appear on the show at the last minute.
“It was a series of unfortunate events because I trusted my friend who had a license to fish for the species involved and thought this fish was also included,” he told AFP by phone.
They both had sleepless nights, and the chef was worried that his restaurant, located in a national park, could suffer serious losses.
The recipe is still available online, but it only states that the pieces of fish fillet to be used must be “from trusted fishermen.”