Sablefish, B.C.`s next big farm fish

Odd Grydeland Although the popular name for Sablefish is “Black Cod”, this fish is not a cod at all. Caught by commercial fishers in Alaska and British Columbia, the taste and texture of Sablefish resembles that of “Chilean Sea Bass”, whose real name is Patagonian Toothfish”. Landings from the commercial fishery in B.C. have been around 3,800 tonnes lately, while the bulk of the production of wild-caught Sablefish (some 16,000 tonnes) comes from Alaska. Licence holders in B.C. have- through the Canadian Sablefish Association- launched a fierce attack on attempts to farm this species, fearing that the value of their licences may be reduced with increased supply. Most of the wild caught Sablefish is frozen at sea and sold to the Japanese market, while the bulk of the farmed product from B.C. has been sold to local and U.S. buyers as fresh, gutted fish. Wild fish harvesters typically receive some CA $ 8.80 or less per kilo, while fresh farmed Sablefish sells for approximately CAD $ 15.40. One new hatchery was built for the production of Sablefish juveniles on Saltspring Island a few years ago (Sablefin Hatcheries Ltd.), while the Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans has conducted research on Sablefish nutrition.