What is BUTTERFISH?
COMMON NAMES
Black Cod, Sablefish, Coalfish, Alaska Cod, Gindara (sushi)
Butterfish is Hawaii’s nickname for Sablefish, a highly prized for an intensely rich, buttery flavor – hence “butterfish” – and for its surprisingly delicate texture. Although commonly called “black cod,” this deep-sea fish, which can live up to 5,000 feet (1,500 meters) below the sea, is not part of the cod family.
Butterfish inhabit shelf and deep-sea waters from central Baja California to Japan and the Bering Sea. Their high-fat content provides a rich flavor and velvety texture, making sablefish perfect for smoking.
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TEXTURE
Smooth, velvety texture and large, yet delicate, flakes
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COLOR
Pearly white fillets when raw and golden-yellow when smoked
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FLAVOR
Rich, satiny sweet, buttery taste courtesy of the high oil content
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HEALTH BENEFITS
High in the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA, rich in nutrients such as Vitamin B12, and no mercury
Mission & Purpose
“To demonstrate a sustainable enterprise through the use of the environment and resources that meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”
What is THE OPPORTUNITY?
Wild Sablefish Catch Trends
The wild catch peaked in the mid 1970’s at almost 90K Metric Tonne (MT)
and is now 24.7K MT valued at $119 M sold primarily as a frozen, Head Off Gutted product.
The Opportunity
Aquaculture is the fastest-growing food-production technology, now globally accounting for more fish biomass than wild capture fisheries and more total biomass than beef.
Wild sablefish harvests are unlikely to keep up with growing market demand.
Sablefish, also known as Butterfish, is highly valued for its buttery flavor and has great potential for expansion in existing North American, Japanese, and European markets as well as establishing new markets abroad in Korea, China, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, and elsewhere where premium fresh seafood products are in demand.
There are only two viable commercial aquaculture operations globally, both in British Columbia producing up to 1150 MT of Sablefish for the live, fresh, and fresh export markets.
When fully operational the new Kona Butterfish Company. will share 30% of this $29M aquaculture market.
Benchmarks FOR SUCCESS
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