Sablefish (more commonly called black cod) is one of Alaska's priciest species, and the state has long held a corner on the market in Japan, where virtually all of the product goes. But those lucky enough to hold fishing permits for black cod could soon face a rude awakening when farmed sablefish from British Columbia starts hitting the market this year.
For the past year, a handful of Canadian fish farmers has been growing black cod in saltwater pens, and the fish will be ready for retail counters in December. Currently, there are three black cod farms in British Columbia which have been operating under experimental permits.
According to the Fish Information Service, the Canadian fish farmers began a broodstock collection three years ago. The black cod are spawned at the Island Scallops Hatchery in Qualicum Beach, B.C., where they are reared to roughly 5 grams. From there, the tiny fish are sent to fish farms where they grow to market sizes of around 2 pounds to a whopping 17 pounds, huge for a black cod.
According to operations manager Peter Phillips, the farmed sablefish exhibit much faster growth rates compared to those in the wild. They also have excellent survival rates of 22 percent at the hatchery and an impressive 90 percent in the farm pens. Farmers also say they have experienced no problems with diseases.
How the quality, taste and texture of farmed sablefish will compare to the wild variety remains unknown but not for long. Manager Eric Norman of Taku Fisheries in Juneau worries that the farmed fish could create serious competition for commercial fisherman.
"With black cod, you've got an extremely limited supply, especially with these wild fisheries. It's only about 25 million pounds (dressed weight) in the whole world," Norman told the FIS. "Obviously, it's quite expensive, and demand is relative to supply, but it wouldn't take more than 5 or 10 million pounds. That's an afternoon's work for these fish farmers to have a serious impact on the marketplace."
Alaska longliners have a black cod catch quota of just less than 30 million pounds this year in a season that runs from March 15 to Nov. 15. Another fall fishery at Chatham Strait in Southeast yields another 2 million pounds. Fishermen have been getting around $3.60 per pound for their sablefish this year.
Pollock spies?
Pollock are being trained by Norwegian scientists to carry out intelligence missions. "We have done quite a bit of research on this, out at sea also. Cod is too strong-willed and difficult to steer. Salmon is too stupid," said Jens G Balchen, from Norway's Technical-Scientific University, according to WorldCatch.
Balchen's experiments include "steering" the fish by attaching an electronic compass, computer and steering mechanism and using ultrasound signals to guide movements. The researchers believe fish might be used as alternatives to submarines. "They come waterproof and equipped with energy and a propeller, and are small enough to scout around pipelines or shipwrecks," WorldCatch said.
Intrusive gear
Chinese officials plan to crack down on operations that use explosives, electricity and chemicals to catch fish. The Fujian province in southeastern China reportedly has roughly 2,000 fishing boats that use those methods to boost their catches. Reports from the South China Morning Post said as harvests have dwindled in recent years, fishermen have resorted to more damaging methods to increase their catch.
In 1996, the government imposed a nationwide ban on using such methods, but last year, more than 10,000 incidents along the Yangtze were documented, and tens of thousands of boats and fishing equipment were seized.
Wanted: salmon processors
David Harrison, strategic marketing director for the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute, will soon begin working with U.S. food manufacturers to create demand for Alaska salmon as an ingredient in ready-to-eat meals, chowders and soups.
ASMI is beginning the second year of administering a federal grant designed to assist Alaska wild salmon against imports of farmed salmon and wants to know which processors are interested in participating. Companies should contact Ashli Colon by calling 800-478-2903 or via e-mail at (acolon@alaskaseafood.org).
Kodiak-based free-lance writer Laine Welch can be reached via e-mail at (msfish@ptialaska.net).
