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Vancouver Chefs & “Ocean Wise” Get In The Full Swing Of BC Halibut Season

Ocean Wise is the the seafood sustainability of the Vancouver Aquarium | 604-659-3596 | www.oceanwise.ca

The GOODS from Ocean Wise

Vancouver, BC | It’s a great time for seafood lovers. March marked the beginning of Pacific halibut season, featuring this delicious, sustainable Ocean Wise fish in ample supply. “It’s an incredibly versatile fish, which is one of the reasons I love it so much,” says YEW seafood and bar’s Executive Chef Ned Bell, who couldn’t be happier to have fresh halibut back on the menu this season.

The Pacific halibut fishery closes from November to March because that’s when the halibut spawn. YEW, at the Four Seasons Hotel Vancouver, tries to be the first restaurant in town to serve halibut when the season opens every year. On that day in early March, Ned likes to make a show of bringing the spectacular white fish into the dining room from the front entrance and carving it up. Teddie Geach, the Aquarium’s Ocean Wise account representative for Western Canada, was one of the first to sample YEW’s 2014 halibut this year, and she’s on board with Bell’s enthusiasm. “Chefs play a really important role in educating people about the food that they’re eating,” says Teddie.

And Pacific halibut is a good news story. Its supply is extremely well-managed by the International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC), a joint team of Americans and Canadians that dates back to 1923. Halibut can reach 500 lbs. Males mature around eight years old, while females aren’t fully mature until they’re about 12. “The larger the female is, the more eggs she will produce,” says Teddie, who notes that a 250 lb. fish could potentially turn out four million eggs per year. That’s what Ocean Wise calls a “highly fecund” female.

A bottom-dwelling flatfish, Pacific halibut are typically found on the continental shelf, preferring temperatures that range from 3 to 8 degrees C. Their natural habitat ranges from the Bering Sea down to the waters off northern California. They have a moderate life span, compared to some species of sturgeon, which live to be well over 100 years old. Still, the oldest halibut recorded made it to the age of 55. “That’s pretty old for a fish,” says Teddie. Learn more about halibut after the jump…

Off B.C. shores, halibut is primarily caught using bottom long lines that are baited, weighted hooks set along the bottom of the sea floor. Unlike bottom trawls, this sustainable method avoids destroying the essential habitat of other species.

Each year, the IPHC conducts stock assessments to estimate the overall abundance of halibut and recommends a total allowable catch. In 1991, Canada implemented an Individual Vessel Quota System (IVQ) where each fishing vessel is allocated a portion of the overall fishing quota to prevent overfishing. In 2011, the IPHC concluded that 144 million tons of Pacific halibut could be extracted from the ocean without threatening the species’ sustainability.

Delighted chefs and fish fans welcome Pacific halibut in countless guises, whether it appears as tender, scallop-like cheeks or battered, in fish’n’chips. “It’s an outstanding fish, flavour-wise,” Ned explains. “It’s local to the West Coast and its quality is second to none. It’s white, dense, meaty, flaky and lean. It’s like a sponge; it soaks up flavour and adapts well to any kind of cuisine, from Asian to French to Indian. It also smokes and cures well and makes a great ceviche.”

Overfishing is the biggest issue facing our oceans today. Vancouver Aquarium’s Ocean Wise program works with chef, restaurant, retail and market partners across Canada to provide sustainable seafood options for consumers. Look for the Ocean Wise symbol for Vancouver Aquarium’s assurance of an ocean-friendly seafood choice.

Details

Telephone: 604 659 3596
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.oceanwise.ca | Twitter | Facebook
Aquaquest Reception | PO Box 3232 | Vancouver, BC V6B 3X8

Gallery

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  • Ned Bell headshot July update
  • 2016-09-12 - Ocean Wise Seafood and Sushi Bar at Urban Fare - Photo Meighan Makarchuk (5) - updated logo
  • 2015-06-25 - Ocean Wise Cookbook 2 Launch at RawBar - Meighan Makarchuk (49) (1)
  • Chef Ned Bell Kelp Brownies - Feb 29 2017 - Meighan Makarchuk (5)
  • Spot Prawn Salad
  • 2016-07-12 - Chef Ned Bell Ocean Wise Dungeness Crab Taco Tuesday - Meighan Makarchuk (10)

About Ocean Wise™

The Ocean Wise symbol next to a menu or seafood item is the Vancouver Aquarium’s assurance of an ocean-friendly seafood choice. With over 3,100 Ocean Wise partner locations across Canada, Ocean Wise makes it easy for consumers to make sustainable seafood choices that ensure the health of our oceans for generations to come.

The Vancouver Aquarium’s Ocean Wise program works directly with restaurants, markets, food services and suppliers to ensure they have the most current scientific information regarding sustainable seafood and to help them make ocean-friendly buying decisions. The options are highlighted on their menus and display cases with the Ocean Wise symbol, making it easier for consumers to make ocean-friendly seafood choices.

Ocean Wise recently launched the Ocean Wise iPhone application—an easy-to-use app that provides consumers with over 3,100 Ocean Wise restaurants, markets and supplier venues from coast to coast, and a comprehensive list of ocean-friendly seafood options. The Ocean Wise iPhone app is continuously updated with ocean-friendly seafood options and Ocean Wise partners spanning Victoria to Halifax.

Learn more at www.oceanwise.ca.

There is 1 comment

  1. I find it strange and discouraging that entities such as “Oceanwise” appoint themselves as the spokespeople for science that counters the real science? Case in point: the head commissionaire for the IPHC stated this winter that given industry continues to reject sciences request to accept a serious cut to the annual quota it may be unlikely there will be a commercial halibut fishery much longer. It would seem Oceanwise is little different than the MSC in that credibility takes sides with industry regardless the consequences to public resources? As a career commercial fisher who has seen the consequences of disingenuous “sustainable” accreditation and it’s direct impact, hasn’t the use of the word “sustainable” become a fast-buck marketing tool that could leave our youth without?