Fish for Thought: An Eco-Cookbook

Arlene M. Gryfe is a Toronto-based professional nutritionist and home
economist.

The idea for this eco-cookbook by the Living Oceans Society—a
nonprofit organization concerned with conserving the marine life and
habitat of the oceans through the promotion of economic and ecological
sustainability—came from the misinformation surrounding the 1998
commercial salmon fishing season in British Columbia. Sockeye and coho
salmon runs were low that year, but chum salmon was plentiful. Since
many people believed that sockeye is the only salmon worth eating, the
demand for chum was almost nonexistent. Moreover, many people stopped
eating salmon because they heard that the stocks were nearly depleted.
The drop in demand forced fishers to seek other work, even though there
was an abundance of chum salmon.

Fish for Thought helps consumers to understand how the seafood they buy
affects local fishermen, coastal communities, and the overall health of
the ocean. A rating system is used to convey the current health of each
fishery. Zero means that an endangered species (e.g., abalone) should
not be caught or eaten; consequently, no abalone recipes are included. A
high rating means that a species is plentiful and therefore safe to
catch and eat. Conservation tips showing how consumers can play an
active role in improving the management of our fisheries are also
provided.

The recipes, contributed by prominent Canadian chefs, entertainers, or
fishing people, are in imperial measurements only. There are three to
five recipes for each of the acceptable seafoods discussed. Scattered
throughout the book are many black-and-white photographs of maritime
scenes, as well as eight color photographs of selected recipes.

The book ends with a description of fishing methods, a glossary of
pertinent terms, and a sample letter to the Minister of Fisheries and
Oceans urging the minister to take steps to rebuild healthy stocks of
all species. Fish for Thought is a must-read for anyone concerned about
the state of Canada’s fishing industry.