![]() ![]() Red snapper from the Gulf of Mexico is dangerous as well. Still, until more research is done on stock strength and strong management protocols are imposed, this fishery will continue to be a free-for-all. Wild red porgy from the Gulf of Mexico is potentially an unsustainable choice, but not enough is known to say for certain. Wild red porgy from the Atlantic is not a perfect choice, but there is management in place now, and stocks seem to be recovering. Moreover, not enough is known about farm management or environmental impacts to justify an unalloyed recommendation. ![]() That being said, it can be difficult to locate. Here’s how tai plays out at the sushi bar:įarmed madai imported from Asia is potentially a better choice than domestic wild alternatives. The current situation is somewhat chaotic: A number of the fisheries are overfished and poorly managed, while others boast healthy populations and strong management. Known as tamure among the Maori, the native people of New Zealand, this fish has long been of great importance to New Zealanders, but it has only recently gained a following in the United States. There are several tai snapper fisheries in the waters around New Zealand. Like red snapper, vermillion snapper is overfished, and although there is management in place, populations continue to decline.įinally, the newest addition to the lineup is Pagrus auratus, often known as New Zealand tai snapper, or kodai. Vermillion snapper is also caught in the Gulf of Mexico. Little in known about the status of these stocks, but it is possible that they are facing problems similar to those of domestic red snapper. There is also a significant amount of red snapper imported into the United States, mainly from Latin America. Stocks are known to be overfished, but they are still being exploited at levels beyond what the population can support. This popular fish is also caught primarily in the Gulf of Mexico, and like the red porgy it is potentially in serious trouble. ![]() If the tai at your local sushi restaurant isn’t Japanese sea perch or red porgy, it might be Lutjanus campechanus, the ubiquitous red snapper. ![]() Unfortunately, there have been no stock assessments conducted on Gulf of Mexico red porgy populations, and beyond state waters, there is no management in place. Currently the majority of red porgy consumed in the United States is caught in this region. It was not until after fish populations had been significantly depleted that any management protocols were put in place.Īs red porgy landings declined in the Atlantic fishery, they began to increase in the Gulf of Mexico. Historically the Atlantic fishery has been the more productive of the two, but stocks fell sharply during the late twentieth century. Red porgy is caught along the Atlantic coast of Florida and in the Gulf of Mexico. Sushi bars in the southern United States and along parts of the East Coast often use Pagrus pagrus, the red porgy, as tai. Even so, madai is not yet readily available in North America, so more accessible alternatives are often served in its place. Madai aquaculture is a major industry in Japan, Taiwan, and China, and some of these farms are now selling their product to the Western market. This situation is beginning to change, however. This cultural significance, coupled with North Americans’ historic indifference to the fish, has forestalled any major exports of the product to the United States. Madai is extremely popular in Japan, and it is traditionally served at celebrations and festive occasions. The technical Japanese term for this fish is madai, or “true tai.” This fish is in high demand and is known by a number of English names, most commonly red sea bream and Japanese sea perch. In Japan the preferred option is generally Pagrus major. These fish are also tagged with other meaningless monikers like “sea bream” and “sea perch.” None of this makes it any easier to choose sustainable tai. Just about anything can be called a snapper, but usually it refers to some type of a long-living fish that grows slowly and lives in rocky areas. The English equivalent of the word is usually considered to be “ snapper,” an equally ambiguous term that means very little. ![]()
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