Samana is celebrating the annual Festival del Marisco Ripiao in the city of Sanchez on the southwestern shore of the peninsula, from 19 to 21 June 2015. The festival highlights the seafood-based gastronomy of Sanchez, local culture and conservation of natural resources in the province of Samana. It is being organized by the Samana Bay and Environs Eco-Development Conservation Center (CEBSE), the San Lorenzo Bay Fishing Cooperative and the Sanchez Community Committee with the Sanchez city government. CEBSE executive director Patricia Lamela highlighted that the event seeks to raise awareness among the public in general and fishermen in particular for the development of sustainable fishing practices.
The organizer of the Festival del Marisco Ripiao de Sanchez, Bienvenida Nina said the idea for the festival had come about as a way of promoting Sanchez and its cultural, gastronomical and tourist attractions. She said the festival has received unconditional support from Culture Minister Jose Antonio Rodriguez, who named in honor of Sanchez native Tatico Henriquez. Several other grassroots merengue groups are also from Sanchez.
Sanchez shrimps are famous for their quality in the Dominican Republic. June is the peak season for shrimp production in the region and prices are at their lowest.
Nina said that a night would be dedicated to present the history of Sanchez, as well as a seafood gastronomy competition, a performance by the Ministry of Tourism folk dancing group, sports competitions, cooking show with local and international chefs and tributes to outstanding people from Sanchez.
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