Reel in the freshest of the fresh

As a child of the tropics, and specifically the tropical island paradise that is Jamaica, I was probably born with a jack sprat fish in my mouth. As much as I adore my meat, poultry, dairy and farm produce, seafood overwhelms my palate and satiates my heart. In fact, my mother is a seafood purveyor and fishmonger, sourcing the best quality seasonal seafood from local waters and supplying her customers across the island. What I know for sure is that not all seafood is equal and there are definitely tricks to getting the best the waters have to offer.
First of all, not all "seafood" is from the sea. That's not so obvious to those who are not from areas around water.  There are two major categories of "seafood": salt water (ocean) and fresh water (lakes, rivers). Usually, most saltwater fish are wild caught except for salmon. According to the site www.farmedanddangerous.org "Most of the  [farmed salmon fish] industry uses open net-cages in the ocean, and these floating feedlots hold up to a million fish in an area the size of two football fields.the open net-cages are generally sited in sheltered bays along the coast in close proximity to wild salmon streams and rivers."
Historically, people only ate what was available in their immediate location for the day. Villages and countries by the sea would
include lots of fresh seafood in their daily diets while those away from the sea would only get seafood on special occasions or would have to eat it salted or pickled, when available. However, as the global demand for fish increases, more landlocked people are consuming greater quantities of fish (fresh and frozen) than ever due to commercial fishing, refrigeration, improved transportation and storage. And even people who live by the coast often buy their fish from supermarkets instead of from local fishermen.
Today, I have some tips to help you select the best seafood for yourself and your family.

1. Go fishing
The best way to ensure you get the freshest fish is to take up fishing as a sport and head out in a fishing boat and catch your own! Lots of fishing companies now offer fishing tours in Dubai so jump on the opportunity at least once.

2. Buy directly from fishing boats
Go directly to the seaside and buy from the fishing vessels. This is not easily done in the UAE, so keep it in mind for when you're travelling to places that afford the opportunity.

3. Buy fish that are fished from local or regional waters
The vast majority of salmon sold in the UAE is farmed. Contrary to popular belief, Scottish salmon is farmed, not wild caught, despite its bright pink colour.

4. Buy speciality fish from specialty suppliers
If you want wild caught salmon, tuna and eel, go to food shops that have a higher food ethic and disclose sources. Do note that there is no such thing as 'organic farmed fish', despite what some labels might say. If fish is farmed, then it is not "organic." Organic seafood is that which  is caught in the wild.

5. Smell
When buying seafood, remember that the fish should smell like the sea. If it smells really fishy, walk away.

6. Look
The colours on the skin should be bright and clear and the eyes should also be clear - not cloudy.

7. Touch
Take scented wet wipes with you when you go to buy fish if you feel icky handling it with your bare hands. That aside, feel free to touch any fish you want to buy. If it feels slimy, move along.

8. Be consistent
Buy from the same suppliers once trust is established. This will allow you to develop a relationship with them and no good supplier will knowingly risk selling faulty stuff to a regular customer. You may even find that you get special treatment and the option to buy things that are not on display!       
wknd@khaleejtimes.com

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