The Sushi Wars: Can the Bluefin Tuna Be Saved? (Time.com)

[eppur_se_muova]

By Vivienne Walt Friday, Nov. 28, 2008

If an army marches on its stomach, then the key item in the kit bags of the Roman legions that conquered southern Europe about 2,000 years was dried bluefin tuna. But having survived the demands of the Roman conquest, the species — each of which can weigh as much as 1,500 pounds and live as long as 40 years — might finally have met its match in the contemporary global appetite for sushi.

If environmentalists and marine scientists are right, the world's remaining stocks of bluefin tuna, 90% of which are in the Mediterranean, could be on the verge of extinction. Says Alain Fonteneau, a marine biologist for France's government-run Institute for Development Research in Montpellier: "If we do nothing, in five years we will fish the last bluefin tuna."

But not everyone is ready to heed the warning. A week-long international meeting to save the species ended in splenetic arguments Monday night, as European officials thwarted a proposal by the U.S. and environmental groups to impose a partial moratorium on bluefin fishing and to drastically reduce catch quotas.

Officials from the 46 members of the International Consortium for the Conservation of the Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) had spent days behind closed doors in the Moroccan city of Marrakesh, battling over a rescue plan for the species. Several smaller ICCAT members such as Guatemala and Panama had initially backed a proposal supported by the U.S. and environmental groups to halt all bluefin fishing for nine months of the year, and to crack down hard on violators. But European officials persuaded them to instead adopt a reduced quota of 22,000 tons in 2009, and 19,950 tons in 2011. That certainly represents a sharp drop from last year's estimated global sales of 61,000 tons of bluefin tuna — and even from this year's official quota of about 29,000 tons — but it's still far above the 15,000 tons that marine scientists advise is the limit that can be fished without without the species becoming extinct.
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more: http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1862255,00.html?cnn=yes

[Ian David]

1. Fortunately, the reef-destroying sea urchins are absolutely delicious.

Uni (oo-nee) is the Japanese name for the edible part of the Sea Urchin. While colloquially referred to as the roe (eggs), uni is actually the animal's gonads (which produce the milt or roe). Uni ranges in color from rich gold to light yellow, and has a creamy consistency that some love and is off-putting to others. It is nevertheless one sushi item that is in incredible demand around the world, which is reflected in its price. Sea Urchins are a rare treat for those who acquire a taste. Uni has a light, sweet, and somewhat briny flavor and is is usually enjoyed as nigiri sushi or sashimi. Uni is also sometimes served with a raw quail egg. Uni is also considered an aphrodisiac by some. It is harvested throughout the world, however the west coast of the U.S. has in recent years become one of the largest sources, and much of the harvest finds its way overseas to eager Asian customers. Each sea urchin contains five 'lobes' and the harvesting of the uni is a very delicate process as the meat easily falls apart. Uni is a somewhat seasonal item and is at its best when served from late fall through the winter, with December considered the best month by Japanese standards.

More:
http://www.sushifaq.com/sushi-items/sushi-items-uni.htm

[dkf]

6. Eek.

I can't handle the texture myself. But I had this killer Uni Spaghettini in San Francisco that was really really rich. It was the best. After that I thought Uni wasn't that bad and popped another Uni Sushi...not good. Won't do it again.

[MercutioATC]

2. Don't buy canned dolphin! They catch tuna in those nets!

Kinda interesting how it's not enough to just save the "cute" animals, isn't it?

[Submariner]

3. Greedy, selfish, ignorant, pompous idiots ALL

Remember the giant Cod. Remember the giant striped bass. Remember the giant billfish. These idiots don't want to learn, lest they lose what they feel is their share of the so-called bounty.

But we've always got Spam. We'll never run out of ground up pig lips and goat dicks.

[MercutioATC]

4. Pig lips and goat dicks?!?

Whatever happened to "pork shoulder and ham"???

[eppur_se_muova]

7. I thought that was scrapple ...

(a MD 'delicacy', if you're not familiar)

[IDemo]

5. There is a device that will improve the flavor of raw fish:

[pscot]

8. Works for Spam too

n/t