PrintKona Kampachi: The Wonder Fish
The commercial fishing industry hasn't been doing so hot in recent years. Fish like cod and king salmon are decreasing dramatically or disappearing completely due to overfishing to meet global demands. The effects of global warming are starting to become evident as well, and let's not forget the hubbub raised earlier this year over the high level of mercury in certain species like tuna or swordfish.
Enter the Kona Kampachi, a "designer yellowtail" bred in Kona, Hawaii. Fortune Magazine goes so far as to even dub it "the wonder fish":
It's not genetically engineered in any way, just well bred. It's sashimi-grade and sustainably farmed without hormones or prophylactic antibiotics. It's richer in omega-3 than just about anything else in the ocean and has no detectable mercury. It melts on your tongue, holds up on the grill, and is so rich in oils that it'll fry in a pan without butter.
Unlike most fish farms, the Kona Kampachi are bred "offshore"—in deeper waters, farther away from land—limiting their exposure to pollution to decrease the potential of contracting disease or contamination. Since they're not genetically modified, any fish that escape also won't impact the native population.
Already popular in the culinary world, it's been seen on the menus of restaurants from San Francisco, Denver and New York. As it is a premium product, it's a bit pricey—almost $20 for a pound—but the benefits might outweigh the costs.
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3 Comments:
Carnivorous fish still aren't the 'wonder fish,' despite marketing claims otherwise. Every time you move up a trophic level, you're still losing about 90% of the energy. Eating herbivores represents a 90% loss from their plant-based feed, so eating a carnivore represents a 90% loss of a 90% loss. So while eating these 'new' tuna is better than eating other (highly endangered) species of tuna, it still doesn't beat eating tilapia or catfish that have been sustainably farmed.
In case you haven't seen it before:
http://www.mbayaq.org/cr/seafoodwatch.asp
Urbanaus at 9:10AM on 04/24/08
This may be the best fish I've ever eaten: http://seriouslygood.kdweeks.com/2008/03/review-hawaiian-yellowtail-from-kona.html
Kevin at 11:59AM on 04/24/08
There is no fracking way I'm eating catfish sashimi...but Kona kampachi is divine and the way the farm the fish is excellent. Check out the sushi and sashimi I made with it.
Vanessa at 8:48PM on 04/24/08