Species farmed…

Sablefish (Anopoploma fimbria) - also known as Blackcod - is a deep-water fish that is quite widely distributed along the continental shelf of the Northern Pacific Ocean ranging from California north to Alaska and the Bearing Sea. Sablefish has been identified as a priority species for Pacific Northwest aquaculture due to: declining commercial and recreational wild sablefish fisheries; high market value; ability to adapt well to aquaculture rearing practices.

Where they’re farmed…

Sablefish are farmed in British Columbia in Jervis inlet and on the west coast of Vancouver Island.  

How they’re farmed…

Sablefish are raised in open sea pens. Sablefish eggs are hatched within specialized hatchery facilities. The young fish remain in the hatchery until they reach ~30 grams. The fish are then transferred by trucks to the grow-out ocean pens. Sablefish take 2.5 years to reach a 2.5 to 3 kg size.

What they eat…

Sablefish are fed nutrient-dense, dry pellets made of fish meal, fish oil and wheat. No pigmentation is added to the fish feed to adjust flesh color. The fish meal and oil are primarily made from Herring by catch or anchovies.  The Feed manufacture also adds essential vitamins, and minerals to feed. 

Why they’re environmentally sustainable…

All approvals for sablefish farms in Canada are subject to an intensive environmental review according to both federal and provincial legislation, including the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (CEAA). Sablefish farms can only be sited in areas where water currents provide optimal conditions for fish health and environmental sustainability.

In addition to ensuring that their farms are sustainable, sablefish farmers are also helping to ensure the sustainability of wild sablefish populations. As a result of sustained over fishing, the standing stock biomass of the wild sablefish has fallen by approximately 100,000 metric tons over the last 10 years. As farmed sablefish production increases, it will supply an increasing proportion of the consumer demand for sablefish – thereby decreasing the pressure on wild populations created by the wild fishery.

Did you know…

Sablefish is renowned for its smooth, luxurious texture and rich, velvety taste. Its high oil content, mild sweet flavour and delicate white flake create a unique mouth and plate appeal much sought after by discriminating chefs and consumers.

Links

Sablefish Canada Ltd.: http://kyuquotsound.com
Aquaculture Association of Canada: www.aquacultureassociation.ca