Save the Harbor/Save the Bay Releases this Year’s List of Seven Sustainable Fish to Serve at the Feast of the Seven Fishes on Christmas Eve

Thursday night brought the 7 Artists & 7 Fishes Event to Save the Harbor/Save the Bay’s Pop-Up Museum in the North End to celebrate both the sea and sustainable seafood with local artists and chefs. Visitors came from Boston communities near and far to celebrate the gallery opening set up by Save the Harbor’s artist in residence Robyn Reed, and to try out the tasty recipes prepared by chef Basil Freddura of The Daily Catch restaurant.

Group Photo of guests, artists, chefs, and Save the Harbor Staff.

Bruce Berman, director of strategy and communications at Save the Harbor/Save the Bay, kicked off the event by introducing the driving message behind the festivities. “Each year, dietary guidelines call for Americans to eat more fish. With so many species under pressure, we feel it is important to share our list of the seven sustainable, available, and delicious species of fish to serve at the traditional Feast of the Seven Fishes this Christmas Eve.” The fish on the list this year includes farmed oysters, mussels, shrimp and salmon raised in the USA, Gulf of Maine or Georges Bank haddock, black sea bass caught by hand line, rod and reel or fish pots, and loligo squid – better known as calamari.

Chef Basil Freddura of the Daily Catch frying up some calamari.

The focus of the feast was on the loligo squid, as the Daily Catch prepared calamari seven different ways. Chef Basil Freddura noted that he “aims to inspire others to be creative with their cooking by taking advantage of the first certified sustainable squid fishery in the world.” His menu included calamari meatballs, fried calamari, calamari scampi, grilled calamari, marinated calamari salad, stuffed calamari, and squid ink bruchetta aglio olio. Many of the guests only were familiar with fried calamari going into the event, and the spread had them going back for more until they had tried all seven dishes.

Three of the seven offerings of loligo squid.

Surrounding the calamari feast was an array of environmental art featuring the Changing Course installation by North End artist Robyn Reed. The exhibit features fish made from painted plastic water bottles collected from the neighborhood and produced by participants in Save the Harbor’s free youth and beach programs to spark discussion about reducing the amount of plastic in the ocean.

North End artist Robyn Reed's "Changing Course" Exhibit.

In addition to Reed’s piece, the interactive exhibit included rope sculptures from Alex Buchanan, paintings by Helen Kamins, drawings, sculpture and music by Justice McDaniel, intertidal art by Andres Amador, visual art by Olga Karyakina, and the Boston Harbor Mural by Guillermo Erice. Reed reflected on the artists and their work who were in attendance Thursday night in saying that she “chose these artists because of [their] shared passion for the ocean and that they all agree on that a clean safe ocean is what they need to continue to inspire their work.” 

Artists, Chefs, and Save the Harbor staff gather before the event begins. Top Row From Left to Right: Ashley Freddura, Basil Freddura, Alex Buchanan, Robyn Reed, Helen Kamins, Justice McDaniel, Mark Rose. Bottom Row: Kristen Barry, Trevor Etheridge, Shaquan McDowell, Chris Mancini.

Save the Harbor would like to thank Robyn Reed and the artists who donated their time and work, Chef Basil Freddura and the Daily Catch, and our partners at Rockpoint Group and Rockhill Management for their enthusiastic support for this celebration of the sea and sustainable seafood. With more than 100 guests in attendance, Christine Pulsifer from Rockhill Management remarked that "the art, food and visitors brought the space to life."

Guests enjoy the art surrounding the feast.

The Boston Harbor Pop-Up brings the harbor, the islands and the beach to the heart of the city for everyone to enjoy. Kids of all ages can explore the harbor, create sand art, color murals, sing sea shanties, and pose for a picture with a big striped bass. It also includes fish prints, photographs and videos created by Save the Harbor/Save the Bay’s Youth Environmental Education program staff.

Christine Pulsifer from Rockhill Management and Save the Harbor Staff posing with the striped bass.
From Left to right: Christine Pulsifer, Abel Yohannes, Mark Rose, Chris Mancini.

Save the Harbor/Save the Bay’s Boston Harbor Pop-Up Museum is located at 226 Causeway Street, right next to Title Boxing Club, at the corner of North Washington Street. It is open daily from 10-4pm, and Sundays from 12-4pm.

For more information, or to arrange to bring your school or youth group to the museum, send an email to info@savetheharbor.org or call 617-451-2860.