From time-to-time, there have been concerns regarding certain species of fish. Gorton's Fresh Seafood recognizes these concerns and makes every effort to help maintain the availability of these species by purchasing only from reputable and sustainable fisheries

Chilean Sea Bass

Chilean sea bass is an extremely popular, but slow-growing species that is also known as Patagonian toothfish. Because of its popularity, and its remote habitat, regulated Chilean sea bass producers have had a significant problem with high seas piracy. To control this problem, and to preserve its natural habitat and survival, harvesting is supervised by the Conference for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources. All reputable companies using Chilean Sea Bass buy from certified harvesters under close supervision. In the U.S., the National Marine Fisheries Service certifies all U.S. imports of Chilean sea bass to guarantee their origin. Gorton's Fresh Seafood deals only with reputable fisheries that strictly adhere to the environmental and trade regulations surrounding Chilean sea bass, in order to bring you this delicious and popular fish.

Farmed Atlantic Salmon

Farmed Atlantic salmon is an excellent fish that is a good source of important Omega-3 fatty acids. In the past decade, farmed salmon has become the salmon of choice around the world. Raised in pristine waters in Chile, Norway, Canada, Scotland and Australia, salmon farming has become one of the most important seafood industries.

Because farmed Atlantic salmon can be harvested year round, it has replaced wild salmon in many commercial markets. Farmed salmon is an ecologically sustainable product. First, feed conversion ratios for salmon are among the highest of any farmed species, and second, improved technology is keeping farmed salmon strains isolated from their wild cousins.

Our wild salmon fisheries throughout the world have been sustained by an aggressive program of hatcheries that produce salmon smolts from eggs, and contribute to the health of wild salmon runs. The farmed salmon industry is based on the same technology. Farmed salmon are raised in sea cages or enclosed systems, completely separate from their wild cousins.

In the wild, salmon get their pink or red coloration from eating the pigments in crustaceans and shrimp, called canthaxanthin or astaxanthin. Farmed salmon are fed identical pigments during their growth. Because of FDA regulations regarding pigments in animal feed, all farmed salmon should be labeled to show that these pigments that impart their natural color are part of their diets, so that most farmed salmon in the U.S. is now labeled with information regarding these pigments. In addition to imparting the natural pink or red color to salmon, canthaxanthin and astaxanthin provide other important growth and nutritional benefits in their diet.

These pigments are also beneficial to human diets as carotenoids, which are also found in tomatoes and carrots.

Gorton's Fresh Seafood deals only with reputable fisheries that maintain the highest standards for raising Atlantic salmon.

Swordfish

Most swordfish today are caught on hooks or are harpooned from specially equipped boats. Due to the growing popularity of swordfish, international treaties (such as ICCAT - International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas) and stock conservation measures are maintaining the sustainability of the swordfish resource. The National Marine Fisheries Service has prohibited the importation of undersized Atlantic swordfish and has also extended dealer permitting and reporting requirements to swordfish importers. In 2002, ICCAT determined that the North Atlantic swordfish stock had recovered to 94% of optimum biomass and is continuing to rebuild.

Gorton's Fresh Seafood deals only with reputable fisheries that strictly adhere to government regulations pertaining to swordfish.

If you have questions concerning seafood or sustainable fisheries, please feel free to contact Gorton's Fresh Seafood.