Several species of fish abound in the seas worldwide, but we choose to eat only a few of them.
There are about 2200 species of finfish in the coastal and inland waters of the United States and Canada alone, not including those in the other parts of the world. Only 25 percent of this number are currently harvested for human food. Only about a dozen of these species are generally accepted by American consumers. This tremendous imbalance can be remedied by utilizing many of the other species that are not being caught or are thrown away as "trash fish" in the catches for the more traditional species.
Every year as much as 22 million tons of edible marine fish are thrown away at sea by shrimp trawlers.
Imagine, five pounds of fish
are thrown overboard for every pound of shrimp caught. And this
occurs mostly off the coasts of those countries that suffer protein
hunger and where food is in short supply.
In view of the ever-climbing costs of harvesting and processing seafood, consumers as well as processors can no longer afford the luxury of wasting the ocean's resources. Although domestic production remains relatively constant, the American consumer's appetite for seafood has increased. During the past two decades seafood consumption in this country has exceeded its rate of population growth, resulting in increased imports. The increased consumer interest in seafood is reflected particularly in the rapidly growing fast-food and restaurant chains. The nutritional value of seafood has at the same time been well publicized and accepted as a healthful food.
Both the fishing fleets and the seafood production facilities are
bound by tradition. Fish harvesting and production concentrate on just
a few species such as
tuna, shrimp, cod, haddock, and flounder. These
top five edible species account for 60 percent of the volume, and 70
percent of the value of the fish landed in the United States. The
increased American appetite for seafood seemingly yearns for very
little variety.
Therefore, the key to the seafood industry's future
success in this country could depend upon gaining greater consumer
acceptance of seafood varieties not familiar to the American palate.
Squid is an example of consumer prejudice in the United States.
The squid is considered a true delicacy in nearly every country in the
world. In this country it is used mainly as fish bait. Foreign fishing
fleets harvest millions of pounds off our very shores.
Gaining consumer acceptance of squid as a food in this country may require a little psychology. In a number of consumer tests the Italian word "calamare" (ca la ma ray) was substitutd for the word squid. Many of the tasters were delighted with the new "calamare" product, but probably would not have dared to taste the unacceptable squid. Apparently, foods are savored not only with the taste buds but with prejudices as well.
In an attempt to make underutilized species more appealing to
consumers on a nationwide scale, it must be remembered that acceptance
of various kinds of fish differs by geographic region. Catfish does
not enjoy the same acceptance nationally that it does in the
southern states. Tuna steaks, highly popular in the seacoast states
are hardly as popular in the inland states.
Angler, or monkfish,
found in the deep waters off the East Coast, is said to taste like
lobster and yet is unknown to many lobster lovers. This lack of
name recognition and of name appeal are factors working against
acceptance of many fish species. How does one go about tasting fish
or shellfish with such unappetizing names as rat-tail fish, gagfish,
wolf-fish, or cancer crab?
Education of consumers and processors concerning these lesser known species is the real solution to this problem. Eighteen years ago the government established seven regional Fisheries Development Foundations, supported financially by the National Marine Fisheries Service. Except for the New England Foundation they are no longer in existence since the last few years because of a lack of funding. But when they were functioning all seven Foundations had been making considerable headway in the areas of education and promotion.
The development program for underutilized species in the mid-Atlantic region, before its demise, covered the activities of the region represented by the states of New York, New Jersey,Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia. It addressed the needs of harvesters, processors, and those who market these species. The activities described in the plan were intended to help remove economic and technological impedients to the development of a strong fishing industry in this region.
The Foundation reported that the waters of this region are abundant with a wide variety of seafood. At least 150 species are harvestable in this region. However, the number of species that are actually caught and utilized by the seafood industry is much less than half that number. Probably no more than 30 species, including shellfish, are of commercial importance. The more abundant and important finfish and shellfish species commonly caught and used commercially in this region include menhaden, surf clam, whiting, ocean quahog,fluke, sea trout, sea bass, blue crab, sea scallop, porgy, oyster, and monkfish. Other species are harvested on a lesser scale, when market prices make them valuable economically.
The Foundation classified as underutilized these six species: red hake, squid, mackerel, dogfish, butterfish, and herring. Other species that have a potential for development but are lower in priority are the eel, jonah crab, blue mussel, carp, and skates.
Of the six species cited above as underutilized in this region, the marketplace will be the deciding factor in whether any one of them will be landed in substantial numbers. The reports that described the problems of underutilized species stressed a central theme: a lack of (1) processing facilities, (2) marketing outlets, and (3) suitable prices. These six species are available much of the year. But, if the prices are low, and if the markets are not there the fishermen are naturally going to concentrate on those species that pay their way.
REFERENCE THE SEAFOOD INDUSTRY. Edited by R.E.Martin and G.J.Flick. Published by Van Nostrand Rheinhold, New YOrk. 1990. ISBN 0-442-23915-7
Special thanks to Keith Brewer at Intercom Inc. for the preparation of the images used in this document.
mpaparel@shore.intercom.net
Other Writings by Michael W. Paparella