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Sablefish/Black Cod
(California, Oregon and Washington, Wild-caught)
Rating:
Sablefish from Alaska and British Columbia is a "Best Choice" and is certified sustainable to the standard of the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) .
Market Names:
Black Cod, Butterfish, Gindara, Sable
Consumer Notes:
Sablefish is also known as black cod and butterfish. It's known as gindara when prepared for sushi.
Summary:
Found only in the North Pacific, sablefish has a rich, buttery flesh that's made it popular with consumers and restaurateurs.
The fisheries in Alaska and British Columbia are well-managed, use pots and bottom longlines, and have low bycatch. Seabird bycatch, a past concern, has been reduced in the Alaskan fishery by improved management.
In contrast, the bottom trawls used in the West Coast fisheries (California, Oregon and Washington) cause habitat damage. In addition, bottom trawls and bottom longlines used in this region result in bycatch of vulnerable species, including depleted rockfish.
Consumers can look for sablefish from Alaska and British Columbia as a "Best Choice," while sablefish from California, Oregon and Washington are a "Good Alternative."
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