Tower of Tuna Photo by Guy Hand
Bluefin tuna is the poster-fish for declining fisheries worldwide. The International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas reports that bluefin stocks hover at 15% of their historic levels. Many organizations have called for a ban on bluefin tuna.
And that has sushi restaurants scrambling to find alternatives to a fish that is often the most popular on the menu.
As the Boston Globe reports, Bamboo Sushi in Portland, Oregon and Mashiko in Seattle are examples of sushi restaurants responding to the decline not only in bluefin, but other ocean species as well. They are, however, the exception.
Casson Trenor, author of the excellent book “Sustainable Sushi: A Guide to Saving the Oceans One Bite at a Time’’ say in the Globe article:
“A lot of sushi restaurants are in denial. Sustainability is not a choice. It’s coming. The sushi industry is falling apart. It’s eating itself, and we need to adapt to that.’’
Of course, seafood isn’t only served in sushi restaurants. A new website called Fish2Fork is offering a restaurant guide for both the U.S. and Britain specializing in establishments that serve sustainable seafood.
Here are the Northwest restaurants listed at the site (the list certainly isn’t comprehensive, but promises to grow):
Seattle:
Etta’s Seafood: 2020, Western Avenue, Seattle, WA 98121, (206) 443-6000
Flying Fish: 2234, 1st Avenue, Seattle, WA 98121, (206) 728-8595 www.flyingfishrestaurant.com
Ray’s Boathouse: 6049, Seaview Avenue NW, Seattle, WA 98107, (206) 789-3770 www.rays.com
Waterfront Seafood Grill: 2801, Alaskan Way, Seattle, WA 98121, (206) 956-9171 www.waterfrontpier70.com
Bamboo Sushi: 310, SE 28th Ave, Portland, OR 97214, (503) 232-5255 www.bamboosushipdx.com
Bittercreek Ale House: 246, North 8th Street, Boise, ID 83702 www.justeatlocal.com/bittercreek
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Guy Hand is a writer, public radio producer and photographer specializing in food and agriculture. |
