Marine Animals 2

Question 1

Mercury in fish

Answer 1

toxic to nervous system

sources: tuna, shark, swordfish, king mackerel, tilefish, marlin, orange roughy and escolar

Choose canned light tuna (avoid albacore)

Question 2

Pregnancy recommendations with mercury

Answer 2

Limit albacore/white tuna to 300g per week

150g for children ages 5 to 11, 75g for children 1 to 4

Light canned tuna is fine

Question 3

Histamine poisoning

Answer 3

AKA scombroid poisoning

Histidine decarboxylase enzymes from bacteria in the skin, gills and guts (remove quickly)
- can cause tingling, swelling and burning around mouth and throat, respiratory distress

Question 4

Escolar/butterfish

Answer 4

Muscle tissue contains 20% indigestible oil of wax esters which can cause gempylotoxism

Gempylotoxin - indigestible and causes dramatic laxative effect in some people

Question 5

Cooking methods for fish (dry and moist heat)

Answer 5

Dry: baking, broiling, grilling and frying (sautéed or deep fried)

Moist: poaching, simmering, steaming and microwaving

Question 6

How to bake fish

Answer 6

Moderate heat: 180-200° C
10 min/inch of thickness

Easily flakes, whiteish and tender

Overheating tightens protein bonds and water is squeezed out

Question 7

How to poach fish

Answer 7

Low temp: 71-82° C

Never boiling

Retains flavor and moisture

Question 8

Fresh fish consumption recommendations

Fresh shellfish recommendations

Answer 8

Within 1-2 days of purchase
Immediate evisceration
Store in coldest part of fridge (4°C)
Wrap tightly to prevent odors and oxygen

Consume day of, can be kept alive in cool salty environment
Keep live bivalves well aerated

Question 9

Freezing fresh fish recommendations

Canned fish storage recommendations

Cured fish recommendations

Answer 9

Up to 9 months
Lean fish will last longer due to less peroxidation
Reduces quality, dryer, tougher and less flavorful

Canned fish: 12 month shelf life

Cured fish: refrigerated, frozen or canned

Question 10

Aquaculture definition

Answer 10

Farming of aquatic organisms including fish, mollusks, crustaceans and aquatic plants

Implies some level of intervention to enhance production and individual or corporate ownership in stock

Most prominent in Canada: atlantic salmon, mussels, trout, oysters and clams

Question 11

Regulatory bodies for aquaculture

Answer 11

Aquaculture in salt water: Federal Aquaculture Act and Regulations
- salmon is #1

Aquaculture in Fresh water: Provincial act and regulations in Quebec P-29

Question 12

Aquaculture trends

Answer 12

British Colombia is the biggest aquaculture province

Already 50% of fish consumed worldwide, China is leader in land-based fishing

Question 13

Farmed vs. wild salmon

Answer 13

All atlantic salmon is farmed, pacific salmon is wild

Wild salmon eat smaller fish to get ω-3, lower in ω-3
Farmed salmon fed ω-3 pellets, higher in ω-3

Best choices: Wild pink salmon, wild sockeye, atlantic salmon farmed in recirculating indoor tanks

Wild salmon still contain some PCBs, higher in farmed

Farmed salmon are pigmented

Wild salmon are considered more environmentally sustainable

Otherwise eat artic char or rainbow steelhead trout

Question 14

Genetically modified fish

Answer 14

Aquavantage salmon deemed safe in 2015

Growth hormone from Chinook salmon added to Atlantic salmon - 16-18 month growth to maturity instead of 3 years

Voluntary labelling

Company shut down so this isn’t on the market