Gag Grouper and Pink Snapper
Understanding sustainable seafood can be a complicated matter. Sometimes species are threatened in many different places, when in individual fisheries some of the species stocks are really healthy. A good example is the snapper and grouper fishery of the Carolinas. We are working closely with Megan Westmeyer, Sustainable Seafood Initiative Coordinator for the South Carolina Aquarium. She tells us that in spite of strict fisheries management in the South Atlantic, Black and Red Grouper populations remain threatened, while Gag Grouper populations are flourishing, and although Red Snapper stocks have not yet rebuilt, Pink Snappers have recovered, with a carefully managed opening happening now. This is a blessing for Jack Cox and the fishermen in Beaufort, NC as they depend on these fisheries for their livelihood. We are also working closely with the Blue Ocean Institute, and they have agreed that in individual fisheries, the sustainable status of all sub-species should not be painted with a single broad brush stroke, and have promised to soon revise their ratings to reflect these facts.
Forty degrees and driving rain stopped the Red Lake Nation fishermen from landing Walleye last week, but the word is that better weather should allow shipments this week.
From Alaska we are landing Halibut (with some by-catch of Rockfish), Black Cod, Pacific Cod, trolled King Salmon and twice weekly the fresh Side-Strped Shrimp the Japanese call Ebi.
From Montauk, Long Island we are now steadily landing Fluke, Monkfish and Day Boat Scallops.
From Louisiana no boats are landing, and supply of Gulf White Shrimp is running low. Prices on remaining frozen stock is up almost a dollar a pound. We all are waiting for some good news from the Gulf, but none so far.
Happy Mothers Day to all you other mothers out there.
