Tuna Troubles
A few weeks ago, I wrote a blurb about tuna fish. The post got all sorts of comments, for various reasons, but one thoughtful comment from Al Dente reader Jim Prevor about bluefin sustainability caught my attention, and prompted me to do some further research.
No sooner had I read Jim's comment than I was inundated with news about bluefin tuna everywhere I looked. I now wonder how this issue previously escaped my attention. The image (left) from New York magazine does a good job of summing up the problems facing bluefin (click here to read then fine print), and this article in The Economist gives some good insight into the politics behind the proposed ban on fishing bluefin (which was just rejected).
In addition to the overfishing issue, Jim noted in his comment that bluefin fishing techniques jeopardize other marine species :
"Bluefin is caught with a variety of gear, including purse seines and longlines. Longlines are most common and result in large bycatch, including threatened or endangered species such as sea turtles, sharks and seabirds. Since there are no international laws to reduce bycatch, these longline fleets are contributing heavily to the long-term decline of some of these species."
According to the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF), the majority of US canned tuna is skipjack, and "skipjack stocks are overall a very healthy species of tuna with a majority of stocks being sustainably fished." Something to think about before you place your next sashimi order, though.
If you'd like to learn more, the ISSF website is a good place to start.
--StellaCadente*Follow me on Twitter @pomodorista
HopeSew on April 01, 2010 at 04:56 AM
Skipjack! It was my favorite canned tuna. I didn't know there was a difference in taste until I couldn't find it anymore and bought albacore again. Eh.
I'm surprised by ISSF stat, too. It seemed like all the cans in the grocery said 'albacore,' but I didn't look too closely at the oil-packed types.
Toren Smith on April 01, 2010 at 09:58 PM
They also serve a lot of other types of tuna, such as yellowfin, depending on the season. You can ask the chef. Or order shiro-maguro, which is albacore.
B. Durbin on April 02, 2010 at 10:35 PM
The Monterey Bay Aquarium has downloadable lists for sustainable (and non!) fishes for various regions in the US. I'd suggest that if you're into eating fish, this is a valuable online resource, and it's specific enough that you will be able to easily find the fish you need.
cheap gucci on November 14, 2010 at 10:50 PM
Thanks for posting! I really enjoyed the report. I've already bookmark this article.
Wow this is a great resource.. I’m enjoying it.. good article