Fiona Sturges: As David Attenborough brings us a new documentary at the age of 99, what happens if this is his last outing?
Greatest tribute to irreplaceable naturalist will be heeding his pleas on our planet's survival
What comes to mind when you think of David Attenborough?
Maybe you picture him sitting amid Rwandan mountain gorillas, grinning as one of them tries to take off his shoes.
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Irish Examiner
3 days ago
- Irish Examiner
Seafood Made Simple: Try Aishling Moore's monkfish cheek and chorizo rice recipe
I was thrilled to hear that at the age of 99 the environmental icon David Attenborough's latest National Geographic documentary would focus on the place where all life began, the ocean. I was even more delighted to learn I could go and see this in the cinema. After a lifetime of exploration and discovery, Attenborough explains he now understands the most important place on earth is not on land but at sea. Over 3bn of us across the world depend on the ocean as our primary food source. Some 2,000 new marine species are discovered every year. The film exposes the destruction of overfishing, trawling, and the devastation of dredging the ocean bed, destroying ecosystems of incomprehensible beauty and complexity. The illogical aggressive fishing of krill, a species of high importance within the ecosystem of the ocean, being used today in pet food, highlights the very real need for legislative reform. The documentary offers solutions to this carnage. Establishing marine protected areas or 'no take zones' is a proven tactic which has regenerated parts of the ocean and seen species reemerge in areas. Currently, less than 3% of the ocean is protected. According to scientists, to save and regenerate the ocean we would need to protect at least one third of it. Great success has been achieved in the Channel Islands marine sanctuary with migratory species of fish from the protected area spilling over into nearby areas increasing stocks. World leaders will meet this month in France at the 2025 Un Ocean Conference, where 'accelerating action and mobilising all actors to conserve and sustainably use the ocean' is on the table. Establishing marine protected areas must happen now. David Attenborough's Ocean will be available to stream on Disney on World Ocean Day, June 8. Monkfish cheek and chorizo rice recipe by:Aishling Moore This dish would also work well swapping the chorizo for smoked bacon lardons and peas for sautéed mushrooms. Servings 4 Preparation Time 10 mins Cooking Time 30 mins Total Time 40 mins Course Main Ingredients 2 tbsp rapeseed oil 1 onion, finely diced 3 garlic cloves minced 90g chorizo, diced 1 tsp smoked paprika 1 tsp dried oregano 320g Carolino rice 75ml white wine 1.2l fish stock 100g frozen peas 200g monkfish cheeks or monkfish tail cut into chunks 2 sprigs flat leaf parsley Sea salt Freshly cracked black pepper Method Preheat oven to 190˚C. In a large pot or ovenproof dish sweat the onion and garlic in rapeseed oil on a low heat for a couple of minutes until translucent. Season with sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper. Add the chorizo and increase the heat slightly. Cook for two minutes. Next add the smoked paprika and dried oregano and mix well with a wooden spoon. Add the rice and stir to coat it in the lovely chorizo-flavoured oil. Cook for one minute. While that's happening warm your stock in a separate pot, this will speed up the cooking process. Turn the heat up to medium-high and add the white wine to the rice and cook until completely evaporated. Next add the warmed stock, stir well, and bring to the boil. Taste for seasoning at this stage. Place the pot in the preheated oven and bake for 12- 15 minutes until all the stock is absorbed and the rice is cooked. You're looking for a moist, risotto-like consistency here, with the surface of the dish beginning to catch. If all the stock has been absorbed and the rice is still a little undercooked, add water and return to the oven. Once confident the rice is cooked, place the monkfish pieces and frozen peas across the top of the rice. Drizzle with a little rapeseed oil and season with sea salt. Return to the oven to bake for 3-5 minutes until the monkfish is cooked through. Finish with chopped parsley and serve. Fish tales I've used Carolina rice for this recipe but any short grain rice like bomba would also work. Instead of monkfish cheeks you could use chunks of cod, hake and pollock or skinned fillets of brill, megrim and plaice which will cook just as quickly. When warming the stock, be careful not to over reduce which will upset the quantities of liquid needed to cook the rice. I like this method of finishing in the oven as you achieve a variance in texture between the exposed surface area colouring and catching a little and the risotto-like texture beneath. You could cook this the whole way on the stove. If you do so, stir regularly to prevent the base of the pot from catching. I've used a fish stock for this recipe, but vegetable stock or a light chicken stock would also work. This dish would also work well swapping the chorizo for smoked bacon lardons and peas for sautéed mushrooms. Read More Seafood Made Simple: My chilli oil recipe is perfect for salads, rice and these steamed mussels
Irish Independent
27-05-2025
- Irish Independent
Fiona Sturges: As David Attenborough brings us a new documentary at the age of 99, what happens if this is his last outing?
Greatest tribute to irreplaceable naturalist will be heeding his pleas on our planet's survival What comes to mind when you think of David Attenborough? Maybe you picture him sitting amid Rwandan mountain gorillas, grinning as one of them tries to take off his shoes.
The Irish Sun
23-05-2025
- The Irish Sun
William fronts new ‘David Attenborough-style' BBC wildlife documentary as he hails ‘the most dangerous job in the world'
PRINCE William is fronting a 'David Attenborough-style' documentary series on the heroics of wildlife rangers he calls "one of the most dangerous jobs" in the world. The 5 William's new documentary will highlight the importance of protecting the natural world Credit: PA 5 The documentary takes viewers into the lives of rangers who do the most 'dangerous' job on the planet Credit: PA 5 The Prince of Wales is a dedicated environmentalist who has worked with David Attenborough Credit: AFP Speaking ahead of the release of episode one today, He warned that 1,400 wildlife rangers have died in the past ten years - which is around two every week. Speaking after an advance screening this week, he said: "At some point we have to say enough's enough and highlight all the bravery that these men and women do on a daily basis to protect our natural world. "This is now one of the most dangerous jobs on the planet and it really shouldn't be. Protecting the natural world, it shouldn't be that dangerous. Read More on the Royals "Many people think being a soldier, being a policeman, emergency services, things like these jobs are dangerous and putting lives on the line, but don't think people realise it's the same for these guys and girls around the world." He added that another reason for the six-part series was to ensure the rangers felt their work was valued and recognised to encourage future recruits. And said: "This is now one of the most dangerous jobs on the planet." Most read in Royals The series shows how rangers across the globe fight to save endangered animals such as rhinos, elephants and snow leopards against the scourge of wildlife poaching. Last year William helped launch a life insurance programme for rangers working to Excited Louis, George & Charlotte join royal VE Day celebrations as they delight huge crowds He added: "I've been dying to do something around this space for a while "This one is particularly special to me because I've gots lots of friends and people I've met over years on my trips abroad who are living this life on a daily basis. "The feedback I'm getting back from them now and have been for quite some time is just how much more dangerous the job is becoming." Earlier this month he paid tribute to the "immense sacrifices" rangers make after two scouts were killed in 5 William will present all six episodes of the BBC programme Credit: PA In 2022 he paid tribute to 'committed and brave' ranger Anton Mzimba who was shot and killed outside his home near Kruger National Park. William is the presenter on all six episodes of show 'Guardians' which will be available, at first, online on the BBC Earth's YouTube channel. He added: " But he wants the shows which tell stories behind the wildlife rangers' work can also draw attention to those who protect the film crews, know the animal trails and keep them safe. He said: "Without them there is nothing to go and see." And added: "It's not about the guns and the bullets, which we do hear a lot about, it's about the community initiatives they do, its the education, it's the teaching, the scientific research, these people do so much more than just protecting wildlife." United for Wildlife, set up by William in 2014 aims to increase help for rangers and has called for 1.5 million needed by 2020. A new episode from the series by The Royal Foundation's United for Wildlife will be released every week. 5 William has also launched an insurance programme to protect rangers Credit: PA
