There are more than 29,000 fish in the sea, and every year we find a few new ones. Many of them are very tasty. Unfortunately, this also means many of them are growing more scarce.
How can you tell what's good to eat and what's best left in the sea? What are the health benefits and the things to watch out far? And, what are some of the excellent things you should know about fishes? That's what this lens is all about.
World Ocean Day
On June 8th, get out and see the sea
This year marks the 15th anniversary of World Ocean Day, and the Ocean could use a good party. What with the latest news that the Southern Ocean is filling up faster than anyone had anticipated with carbon dioxide, and the continuing signs that even if our fish populations aren't in total collapse, they're not all thriving or even recovering quickly, well, who wouldn't want a little cheering up. So what's the good news? Well, there are signs that things can be fixed if we all roll up our sleeves and stop buying imported caviar, among other things.You can support parks and wilderness areas in the sea, put down that mystery fish fillet sandwich, and put some plants in your neighborhood media strip. Planting we like to call in the biz "vegetative buffer zones" (aka strips of plants) helps keep sediment and nutrients from just running down the drain. And the next time you see your grandfather or Uncle Lou, see if they have any old photos of them standing next to a big fish. Take a good look, because that's what we're missing today.
Fresh vs. Frozen?
Megnut just blogged a great piece on frozen fish versus fresh. Her conclusion? Local and fresh = tasty. She runs into the same dilemma with picking her fish that we all face at the counter: what exactly is that cod at the greenmarket and is it the same as Alaskan cod? In this case, at least it's close since they're both gadids (though Atlantic cod has much cuter barbels). But Pacific cod or rock cod might be a whole different fish.
Headlines from the Deep Blue
Thanks to the folks at OceanConserve
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byWhat have fish done for me lately?
It's not enough that you can eat them? You want fish to do things like heat their eyeballs and raise their young in their mouths? Luckily for you, they do. Nothing impresses the ladies more than a few obscure fish facts.
- The sarcastic fringehead is small, vicious, and likes the dark crevices provided by rocks or discarded beer cans.
- Bluefin tuna swim thousands of miles in their lifetime, across the ocean and back. To help them swim so efficiently, they can retract their pectoral fins and heat their muscles.
- The well-named blob sculpin lives more than 5,000 feet underwater, where it nests and guards its eggs.
- Sex changes are common underwater. California sheephead start out as females and become males around age 7, while a clown fish like little Nemo might go the other way. Maybe they'll put that in the sequel.
A few tips to getting good fish
- Ask what it is. Back in 2001, Consumer Reports did genetic testing on fish sold as "red snapper" in supermakets. More than half the fish weren't red snapper at all. While the FDA keeps an approved list of fish names, it's all too easy to avoid getting caught. The more people start asking what they're eating, the more markets and restaurants are held accountable. Use a handy fish guide for reference.
- Ask where it came from. More than 80% of the seafood we eat in the U.S. is imported. If it seems like a bargain, it's probably not domestic, even if they say it's local. And as you get to know more fish, you'll know they're pulling a fast one when they describe the fresh "Florida orange roughy".
- Buy Local. If you're on a coast, make the effort to find a local fish shop, farmer's market, or dock where you can buy directly. Many of these folks can also sell you vacuum packed steaks or fillets for your freezer. The closer you are to the source, the better chance you have of getting what you ask for.
- Skip the Trader Joe's. Considering the customers TJ's is trying to attract, you would think they would do a better job with their fish. Instead, we get overfished orange roughy and the worst of the farmed salmon and shrimp. TJ's is awful on fish and seems intent on staying that way. Try your regular supermarket instead, or even your WalMart.
- Don't fear the frozen fish. The breaded kind if the cardboard box? Maybe not so fresh. But if you don't have access to a local fishmonger, frozen may be worth a look. Today's fishing boats have high quality freezers on board, including blast systems that can make a fish popsicle in minutes. A well-frozen fish can be better than a "fresh" fish that's been handled a lot. Look for a tightly sealed vacuum package and a catch date in the last month or so.
What is that fish?
If you didn't catch the fish yourself, or buy it whole, it can be very difficult to tell exactly what fish you're about to eat. Once they're skinned and filleted many fish look identical.
Fish names can be just as confusing. What we call the "common name" is what you hear on a menu or in a store. As I mentioned in the "Tips to getting good fish" section, the FDA does keep an official list of approved fish names, but that doesn't necessarily narrow it down. "Rockfish" means striped bass on the east coast of the U.S. and any one of 60 different species on the west coast.
If you have a name, a good place to start is FishBase. Fishbase lets you search by common name and pulls up all the possible species it covers, along with biological and other information about this fish. It's a great database and it's available in several languages besides English.
Fish names can be just as confusing. What we call the "common name" is what you hear on a menu or in a store. As I mentioned in the "Tips to getting good fish" section, the FDA does keep an official list of approved fish names, but that doesn't necessarily narrow it down. "Rockfish" means striped bass on the east coast of the U.S. and any one of 60 different species on the west coast.
If you have a name, a good place to start is FishBase. Fishbase lets you search by common name and pulls up all the possible species it covers, along with biological and other information about this fish. It's a great database and it's available in several languages besides English.
Eating Fish
Recipes, restaurants, and good fish guides
- The Chefs Collaborative
- The Chefs collaborative is a group of more than 1,000 chefs across the Country who seek to buy and use sustainable foods, including seafood. They have a link to their member restaurants by state.
- Seafood Watch
- The Monterey Bay Aquarium's lists are the granddaddy of all fish lists. Meticulously researched, their ratings account for how much damage the fishing gear does to habitat and how well the fishery is managed, among other factors. You can download national and regional pocket guides here, or look a fish up by name.
- The problem with mercury
- Mercury poisoning is a particular concern for young children and women who are pregnant or trying to get pregnant. Unfortunately, fish tend to accumulate mercury--some fish more than others--so if you fall in one of the former categories it's smart to read up on how much and what kind of fish is the best choice for you.
Read about fish
If you want to know more about fishes and how we manage them, these books will get you on your way.
Seafood Lover's Almanac
Beautifully illustrated recipes with a little fish history, too. This book made Saveur's Top 100 when it first came out.
Amazon Price: (as of 10/13/2008)
Song for the Blue Ocean: Encounters Along the World's Coasts and Beneath the Seas
This is the book for your friends who have never thought about the ocean or who only think about fish when they're at Red Lobster. Carl Safina is a wonderful writer, and this is just the first book in his ocean series.
Amazon Price: $12.24 (as of 10/13/2008)
Cod: A Biography of the Fish That Changed the World
A story of decline that's been repeated many times for many fish. "Cod" is great on paper and as an audiobook; if your commute isn't too long you can get in a chapter each way.
Amazon Price: $10.20 (as of 10/13/2008)
Probably More Than You Want to Know About the Fishes of the Pacific Coast
If you live on the Pacific Coast, this book will be hilarious and helpful. If you don't it may just be hilarious, or it could give you the art you need for your fish tattoo.
Amazon Price: $19.55 (as of 10/13/2008)
From Abundance to Scarcity: A History Of U.S. Marine Fisheries Policy
This is "Cod" on a grand scale. If you want a long-term perspective, start here.
Amazon Price: $32.50 (as of 10/13/2008)
The Fisherman's Problem: Ecology and Law in the California Fisheries, 1850-1980 (Studies in Environment and History)
Thorough, full of great historical examples, and so well-written it's hard to believe it was a doctoral thesis.
Amazon Price: $34.99 (as of 10/13/2008)
Working for the fish
When you need a fish professional, these groups get the job done.
- Ocean Conservancy
- The real O.C., they were cleaning up beaches before it was cool
- NRDC's Your Oceans
- You can also check out the main NRDC site for in-depth reports.
- Blue Ocean Institute
- Check out the Sea Stories project for great tales of the ocean.
- Pacific Marine Conservation Council
- Working in the Pacific Northwest, PMCC focuses on fish and the communities that depend on them.
- Earthjustice
- Because sometimes you just have to stop people from doing bad things.
- NCMC
- Where sportfishermen go to get the scoop on conservation.
