Why is fish so expensive?

[daugen]

Incredible video - fishing boats in rough sea - YouTube

Crossing the Bar

caution: if you are prone to motion sickness, really do suggest you not watch this.

Most of the supermarket fish in our area starts in the 7 dollar range and goes up quickly. So we eat mostly salmon, which
often goes on sale. But when I watch these fishing boats coming in the inlet, over the proverbial bar,
somehow seven bucks doesn't seem so bad. I really would like to eat more fish but it's hard to justify ten bucks a pound
for just about anything. Maybe I'm just cheap, and there are always special occasions. This is where living near the water is
so nice for getting fresh fish without all the distribution costs tacked on.

portions of this tape have been floating around YouTube but this is the first time I've seen what looks like the whole thing.
If you aren't into boats, bail out early, trust me, you'll get the point.

 

[J F]

We try to get the supermarket salmon every couple of weeks, I think it's 4-5$ a lb. on sale. When I went to the butcher shop D) yesterday I asked about fresh fish, and they said they only carry the frozen stuff due to the fact that trying to stock "fresh" (not frozen) seafood led to too much waste.

I've never had "fresh" seafood, as far as I remember. It's probably a good thing, as I would hate want I can't get. :laughing:

 

[mjarrels]

A large Asian supermarket is scheduled to open within a couple months here... claim to carry 30 kinds of fresh fish.

mark

 

[J F]

"Fresh" anything is going to be expensive as heck, if you're not living right where it's harvested. I'm always wanting to live somewhere else when I look for certain foods. :laughing:

 

[brin]

We only buy fish from American waters...and here is why..."Dirty Waters, Dangerous Fish" on Vimeo

 

[DFB]

There a lot of regulation in the north Atlantic fishing industry to limit overfishing. When I lived on the Maine coast it was in the news all the time. Limits on where to fish closed fishing areas, number of days a year you can fish all stuff like that. It was a way of life for many people. A lot of small commercial fisherman couldnt make money with all the restrictions and had to get out.

 

[J F]

Good info DFB. It's always interesting to learn from locals

 

[KTurner]

Fish seems high in general. I can go to the public boat ramp 1/4 mile down the street from me and catch croaker off the dock. The closest grocery store wants $6 per pound for it. Croaker is a generic saltwater fish, typically about 12" long and 1/2 - 2 lbs. Not a specialty, not hard to catch, nothing like that.

Keith

 

[J F]

It all comes down to the $ (and demand) when it comes down to putting it on the plate. Keith, can ya show up for dinner tonight with 2 lbs of fresh fish...for $8-10.

My wife says I'm a "decent" host.

 

[daugen]

We only buy fish from American waters...and here is why..."Dirty Waters, Dangerous Fish" on Vimeo

Brin,
this really made me chuckle, since the local "fish supply" is the Delaware River. A good sized river that has been polluted for a long time. Getting better..but nothing says it better when the
PA Fish Commission suggested guidelines for fish consumption from the Delaware is one serving per month. Almost humorous if not so dangerous. Lot of catfish get eaten out of there by the Phila locals,
toxic stew including pcb's, chemicals from upstream papermills, overflowing municipal sewers upstream, a constant treat coming downstream.

So, our American alternative locally is mighty unappetizing. Hope yours are much better.