20th Jan 2014: Time to forget ‘take a pass on seabass’ as 70% of global toothfish harvest now MSC certified

Chilean seabass and Antarctic toothfish are now among the most sustainable global fish species harvested.

This is part of what led to the recognition by Monterey Bay last year that toothfish were a good alternative fish choice.

The hard work of the Coalition of Legal Toothfish Operators was recognized at the recent NFI Global Seafood Marketing Conference, as panelists discussed how this fish has become much more widely distributed at restaurants.

70% of the global harvest is now either fully MSC certified or in the process of finishing up certification by the end of 2014.

The amount of IUU fishing has been reduced to around 1,240 metric tons, according to the latest estimates that represent 5% of global landings. Most of the illegal harvest is small fish under 7 kg. that are going into China.

However, ‘take a pass on seabass’ was one of the most effective anti-fishing slogans devised in a campaign to get chefs to take this product off their menus. Even with the fishery now an environmental success story, there is still a lingering misperception.

A New York importer who loves toothfish said even now, when he goes to a party with people who ask him what he does, he gets raised eyebrows when he says he imports toothfish.

Toothfish prices may begin to come down under competition from sable fish. According to market data presented at the NFI conference, sablefish H&G fish prices have declined from a peak of $11.00 per lb to around $6.00 per lb, and this may begin to put some competitive pressure on toothfish pricing, which has remained steady at around $10.00 a lb. for H&G fish.

By John Sackton, Seafood News