Whole Foods Market and the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) are pleased to announce that the supermarket is the world''s first retailer to offer Patagonian toothfish, commonly known as Chilean sea bass, from an Antarctic fishery that has been certified to the MSC''s environmental standard for sustainable and well-managed fisheries.
Whole Foods Market and the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) are pleased to announce that the supermarket is the world's first retailer to offer Patagonian toothfish, commonly known as Chilean sea bass, from an Antarctic fishery that has been certified to the MSC's environmental standard for sustainable and well-managed fisheries.
"The Patagonian toothfish fishers in South Georgia have worked hard to prove their fishing practices are sustainable, and it's great that they have met the MSC's independent environmental standard. Overfishing and illegal fishing remain a serious global threat to this species in other fisheries, so smart shoppers need to check for the eco-label before they buy," said Jim Humphreys, MSC's Regional Director of the Americas. "Whole Foods Market is showing real leadership by backing this forward-looking fishery, and all of us can help that effort by asking for the MSC eco-label when we shop for this desirable fish."
As part of its support of sustainable seafood practices, Whole Foods Market discontinued the sale of Chilean sea bass, also referred to as Patagonian toothfish, in all of its stores in August 1999, due to overfishing and a threat of extinction from modern-day pirates who had poached more than half of the world's sea bass catch. With the MSC's intensive sustainable assessment and certification process along with their chain of custody in place for tracking, shoppers can rest assured that the sea bass at Whole Foods Market identified with the distinctive blue MSC eco-label comes from a responsible, well-managed fishery.
MSC-certified sea bass is wild-caught at depths of up to 5,000 feet from the small fishery in the Antarctic region around the island of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands in the South Atlantic Ocean.
One of the richest and most sought-after fish on the market, sea bass is a moist and tender white fish that flakes easily. Due to its high fat content, the fish is nearly impossible to overcook and is best suited to dry-heat cooking methods such as broiling, grilling, and sautéing. An array of sauces, spices, and herbs can help to enhance the mild, sweet flavour of this fish.
Sea bass, certified to the MSC environmental standard in March 2004, joins 19 other fisheries worldwide that are currently certified to the rigorous MSC environmental standard. In total, more than 50 fisheries worldwide are engaged in the MSC environmental program, representing over three million tons of seafood.
