I ate an arapaima!

[festaedan]

Today when I was at the super market, buying some cod for dinner and I saw arapaima filets. They where at least 6 ft long. I picked up a quarter pound of it to try. It actually tasted really good. Whole Foods sells it as paichi (just in case you wanted to try some).

 

[dogofwar]

I've gotta try it as well!

Matt

 

[crazyclowntang]

try pacus also!!

 

[MHMoro]

Paiche (Arapaima)

As a native of Peru I cannot believe they are selling paiche (arapaima) here. This is a huge fish from the Amazon basin; because it has been overfished in the past the population of adults significantly decreased to the point that some countries banned fishing this species (Brazil is a good example). It seems that there are some new fish farm operations (see link)

www.cleanfish.com/system/resources/.../Amazone_Paiche_Info_Sheet.pd

that have been successful breeding (??) this fish to the point that now Peru is exporting the meat of this fish to the US (I hope this is true and there is no damage to the wild paiche/arapaima population).

I had eaten this fish several times in the tropics and I am sure our CCA president , Tony Horos, is probably enjoying eating this fish right now.

I am definitively going to Whole Foods to check this!

Manuel

 

[dogofwar]

Is this the Whole Foods in Kentlands?

Matt

 

[JasonC]

link didnt work for me... googled it and think this is the same:

http://www.cleanfish.com/system/res...vX1NoZWV0LnBkZg/Amazone_Paiche_Info_Sheet.pdf

 

[festaedan]

As a native of Peru I cannot believe they are selling paiche (arapaima) here. This is a huge fish from the Amazon basin; because it has been overfished in the past the population of adults significantly decreased to the point that some countries banned fishing this species (Brazil is a good example). It seems that there are some new fish farm operations (see link)

www.cleanfish.com/system/resources/.../Amazone_Paiche_Info_Sheet.pd

that have been successful breeding (??) this fish to the point that now Peru is exporting the meat of this fish to the US (I hope this is true and there is no damage to the wild paiche/arapaima population).

I had eaten this fish several times in the tropics and I am sure our CCA president , Tony Horos, is probably enjoying eating this fish right now.

I am definitively going to Whole Foods to check this!

Manuel

It was farm raised but still expensive.

 

[festaedan]

try pacus also!!

Gotta try that.

 

[neut]

Interesting. Had no idea you could get it in the states.

Was aware it's considered a good food fish, though. Thanks to River Monsters and other such travel and nature programs.

But, a magnificent fish imo. Good to hear steps are being taken to protect native populations.

 

[Avatar]

Never eat farmed fish

Generally full of residual antibiotics, growth hormones, pesticides, etc. Also a lot of strange breeding practices going on with some captive-bred species like salmon for example that produce genetically distinct and inferior strains that then escape into the wild and screw up gene lines in the wild population.

When I was in Southern Chile years ago the locals were machine gunning seals that swam near the holding pens for farmed salmon. Most of the salmon that Whole Foods sells is farm-raised.

 

[festaedan]

Generally full of residual antibiotics, growth hormones, pesticides, etc. Also a lot of strange breeding practices going on with some captive-bred species like salmon for example that produce genetically distinct and inferior strains that then escape into the wild and screw up gene lines in the wild population.

When I was in Southern Chile years ago the locals were machine gunning seals that swam near the holding pens for farmed salmon. Most of the salmon that Whole Foods sells is farm-raised.

I had no idea that farm raised fish where so bad. I buy farm raised fish because for all I know, that wild fish could've eaten a dead rat or a frog or some other revolting thing. I'm sure if super markets sold wild arapaima, it would be both illegal- because they are endangered in the wild- and expensive.

 

[mchambers]

What's the alternative?

Generally full of residual antibiotics, growth hormones, pesticides, etc. Also a lot of strange breeding practices going on with some captive-bred species like salmon for example that produce genetically distinct and inferior strains that then escape into the wild and screw up gene lines in the wild population.

When I was in Southern Chile years ago the locals were machine gunning seals that swam near the holding pens for farmed salmon. Most of the salmon that Whole Foods sells is farm-raised.

Add to your list that farm raised fish often are fed things like corn that result in the fish being less healthy for humans to eat.

Having said that, Sam, what should one eat? Aren't most types of wild caught seafood unsustainable (other than Maine lobster, apparently)?

Give up seafood?

Are we back to Soylent Green?

 

[AndyNarwhal]

Aquaculture is a double edged sword in most cases.

Benefits: If a fish develops commercial value and it can be aquacultured then its risk of extinction drops considerably. The Asian Arowana and the Arapaima are good examples. It provides income to locals who can find employment and food to feed their families without destroying natural resources.

Detriments: Aquaculture (particularly 3rd world aquaculture) is a pollution source and it does cause harm to the environment. It also creates a market for the fish so that you do have increased (usually black market) fishing pressure on wild stocks. Essentially fish that were otherwise of little value now become valuable.

One of the problems I see with Arapaima aquaculture is that it is an apex predator. Feeding apex predators requires high quality foods or feeder fish or shrimp. All of which are energy intensive and deplete natural resources. The same applies to salmon aquaculture.

Although they are not as nutritious as apex predators, aquaculture of lower trophic fish like tilapia and carp is much more environmentally friendly. These fish can be fed diets that are mainly plant based and not fish based. There will not be any difference nutritionally.

Andy

 

[dogofwar]

I've always looked at this for a reference: http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/cr/seafoodwatch/web/sfw_regional.aspx

As an aside, some farm raised is better than others. For example, some farmed shrimp (from Central America and Asia) is farmed in ways that aren't legal in the US (i.e. in feces and using doses/antibiotics that aren't allowed here). US farmed shrimp is better...

Matt

 

[neut]

Never eat farmed fish

...Once you go down that road you could just as well say never eat factory farmed pork, beef, chicken, turkey, or anything with soy or corn as ingredients or a host of other items that fall within the web of big agribusiness.

 

[Prince]

Generally full of residual antibiotics, growth hormones, pesticides, etc. Also a lot of strange breeding practices going on with some captive-bred species like salmon for example that produce genetically distinct and inferior strains that then escape into the wild and screw up gene lines in the wild population.

When I was in Southern Chile years ago the locals were machine gunning seals that swam near the holding pens for farmed salmon. Most of the salmon that Whole Foods sells is farm-raised.

http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/department/seafood

Take a look this should clear up some of you misconceptions about Whole Foods seafoods.

 

[Avatar]

Just as well indeed

...Once you go down that road you could just as well say never eat factory farmed pork, beef, chicken, turkey, or anything with soy or corn as ingredients or a host of other items that fall within the web of big agribusiness.

Am already well traveled in that direction - I may eat some from time to time, but never buy such of choice.

You are what you eat...

 

[Avatar]

http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/department/seafood

Take a look this should clear up some of you misconceptions about Whole Foods seafoods.

Whose misconceptions? Beyond considering the source, do you believe everything you read?

Together with scientists and environmentalists, they helped us to develop our strict Quality Standards for Aquaculture, which include:

-"Standards" are not the same as regulations/requirements.


No use of antibiotics, added growth hormones and poultry and mammalian by-products in feed.

-That's not even enforceable in the US let alone overseas.


Traceability that allows us to track our farmed seafood — where it came from and how it got to our stores.

-This is required by USDA and federal law.


Requirements that producers minimize the impacts of fish farming on the environment by protecting sensitive habitats such as mangrove forests and wetlands, monitoring water quality to prevent pollution, and sourcing feed ingredients responsibly.

- Key word here is "minimize" which makes this a guideline rather a condition.


Strict protocols to ensure that farmed seafood is not escaping into the environment and that wildlife around the farm is protected.

-Dream on. As just one example, ever seen what a decent storm does to sea-pens? Or hungry sea lions? An orce? For more see "Murphy's Law".

Didn't see anything about precluding sale of GMO stock/strains either. To meet demand and price points WF made a devilish deal to help in erecting the pretense that aquaculture is green. In a few cases perhaps it's sustainable but large-scale applications will never equal or be superior in numerous ways to healthy natural ecosystems, now or ever. Just a short-term commericial stop-gap response to overfishing and crashing natural fisheries.

You might try this though it is extremely conservative suffering as it does from little first-person site reconnaissance - the reality is much worse than what this alludes:http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2011/12/08/143304753/environmental-claims-for-farmed-fish-dont-hold-up-to-scrutiny

Actual study is linked inside the story. Bon appetit.

S