For all you Sushi lovers out there (Tuna content)

**Vorago** · #1 02-15-2011, 11:27 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDiuj...layer_embedded

Joe Gress · #2 02-15-2011, 11:38 AM

hmm. gives you something to think about.

CrispyDelicious · #3 02-15-2011, 11:52 AM

One of the reasons I never get tuna when I go for sushi.

Anyhow, I usually go for something with a more amusing name than maguro. Nothing like a chef hollering out "HOTATEEEEEE!!!" to signal your food is coming

MakiSupaStar · #4 02-15-2011, 12:26 PM

This is something that has been on my radar for awhile now. I haven't eaten bluefin tuna in three years for this exact reason. Sadly, it's not just bluefin tuna in this plight. In fact, it's all tuna. This video does a nice job of touching upon all the complexities of a dire situation. Most people have no clue that this is even happening, let alone how it affects them.

**Vorago** · #5 02-15-2011, 04:49 PM

F'ed up, isn't it?

And my gf's dad has a sushi restaurant...

MatticusMania · #6 02-15-2011, 05:24 PM

I only eat vegetable, or tempura vegetable rolls. My fiancee eats the same, with the occasional ikura thrown in. Actually not so occasional, she loves that crap.

bassrique · #7 02-15-2011, 05:51 PM

First, there shouldn't be subsidies. Second, "we have one year to save the BF" reeks of enviro-hype. Of course I could be wrong.

MakiSupaStar · #8 02-15-2011, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassrique

First, there shouldn't be subsidies. Second, "we have one year to save the BF" reeks of enviro-hype. Of course I could be wrong.

Yeah. There are some wavering numbers out there. I've heard 5 years and I've heard 10 years. Even these numbers are scary. This is the first time I've heard 1 year.

bassrique · #9 02-15-2011, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MakiSupaStar

Yeah. There are some wavering numbers out there. I've heard 5 years and I've heard 10 years. Even these numbers are scary. This is the first time I've heard 1 year.

I have to do some research, but in the meantime, I'll skip the Bluefin sashimi. I hope this isn't such a dire situation.

**crustychef** · #10 02-15-2011, 06:15 PM

The state of the oceans is quite sad.
I am a sushi chef at one of only 3 or 4 sustainable sushi restaurants in the country or world for that matter. It isn't easy to source sustainable seafood but its not rocket science either. IMO chef who don't are just lazy and or scared of customer backlash. We lost some of our long time regulars but we have replaced them with plenty of folks give a damn about the ocean.
Just quick run down of the big ones to avoid.
Hamachi/yellowtail
Unagi/eel
Bluefin tuna
Tako
Farmed salmon

There is a lot more and for various reasons.
Check our restaurant Mashiko www.sushiwhore.com (don't worry it's not porn)
And the Monterey Bay Aquarium seafood watch guide online is a good place to start. It is by no means the end all be all but it is a good guide.

bassrique · #11 02-15-2011, 06:26 PM

Quote:

(don't worry it's not porn)

Too bad. It would be a great porn concept. Plenty of hot Asian chicks working in a sushi restaurant/bordello.

Waterpilot · #12 02-15-2011, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassrique

I have to do some research, but in the meantime, I'll skip the Bluefin sashimi. I hope this isn't such a dire situation.

+1 I didn't realize this, should do the same and will skip it as well...

Quote:

Originally Posted by crustychef

The state of the oceans is quite sad.

This is becoming more apparent to me each year. I love seafood and have probably looked away because of it. I've donated the the Ocean Conservancy due to shark finning but I really should look into seeing what more I can do...

**crustychef** · #13 02-15-2011, 07:57 PM

one easy way to eat sustainable sushi is stick to the small fish. Mackerel, sardines, kohada, kibinago, sanma, saori, smelt, sanma.
Prawns are terrible too. The farms pollute the crap out of environment. Ever wonder why the ebi/prawn is so cheap? Stick with wild spot prawns/amaebi.
Snapper is overfished like crazy too.
Oh, on a side note, and for the love of god don't eat "Super white tuna" aka Escolar. We are the only country in the world that serves this fish. It is poisonous and indigestible. There have been numerous cases of people falling very ill and even dieing from eating it. The Japanese won't touch it. One very common side effect is severe diarrhea and abdominal cramps.

**crustychef** · #14 02-15-2011, 08:00 PM

and here you go
http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/cr/seafoodwatch.aspx

Skitch it! · #15 02-15-2011, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassrique

I have to do some research, but in the meantime, I'll skip the Bluefin sashimi. I hope this isn't such a dire situation.

+1 Me too.

I get the feeling it is the situation described in the vid, whatever the situation, we are not told by those who profit from it, we're always the last to know from them, that's for sure.

There's no natural balance consideration at all there, always the bucks, always

**crustychef** · #16 02-15-2011, 08:20 PM

And remember that most people don't know about this stuff because fish are out of site out of mind. Plus the fact that whales get all them damn press. Baby seals are cuter than baby eels too.

Skitch it! · #17 02-15-2011, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crustychef

And remember that most people don't know about this stuff because fish are out of site out of mind. Plus the fact that whales get all them damn press. Baby seals are cuter than baby eels too.

+1 You said it, misinformation or none at all is the way for underhand profiteering, tell them nothing and they won't ask, or if they do tell, them what they want to hear.

electracoyote · #18 02-15-2011, 08:32 PM

I like sushi, but not tuna. Tried it once, no thank you. I feel good.

**Eric Perry** · #19 02-16-2011, 12:38 PM

Sad. Very sad. The reason? People (as a species) are scumbags that care about nothing but themselves and today. No care or worries for the destruction of the environment, or what happens a few years from now.

IconBasser · #20 02-16-2011, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eric Perry

Sad. Very sad. The reason? People (as a species) are scumbags that care about nothing but themselves and today. No care or worries for the destruction of the environment, or what happens a few years from now.

it's not even people as a whole that are the cause of this. As the video rightly pointed out, scarcity (decreased supply) equates to drastically higher market prices. If tuna fishing was an open market in which all involved cared about nothing more than self interest, nobody would be catching and selling them, simply because they aren't profitable anymore. The reasons for the overfishing are the massive subsidies and unchecked lobbying.