Canned fish might not be the most glamorous of pantry staples, but it sure is important. It’s cheap, tasty, long-life and easily adds a dose of protein and healthy fats to any meal.
Sarah even has a can of tuna handy in case of lunchtime emergencies. The only catch? Fish needs to be sustainably, er, fished. With the World Wide Fund for Nature estimating that more than 85 per cent of global fish stocks are at risk of illegal or unregulated fishing practices, our choice of fish is much more than just a drop in the ocean.
Luckily, canned fish are labelled much more clearly than other types, and we found five brands of sustainable varieties. The only thing left was to taste them – yes, our office got quite stinky that day!
Brunswick Wild Sardines in Olive Oil, $1.82 for 106g.
Sardines are small fries are at the bottom of the food chain, so they are more sustainable and also lower in mercury (a neurotoxin which can accumulate in the body). Brunswick Wild Sardines tick plenty of boxes: wild caught, 89 per cent fish content and stored in olive oil.
These were the smelliest fish we bought, and caused a few eyes to water! But upon tasting, we found the taste to be pleasantly clean and mild.
Lee, social media manager: “It’s nice, chunky and flaky. Surprisingly, it tastes less fishy than the others – just don’t go kissing any strangers!”
Fish 4 Ever Sustainably Fished Skipjack Tuna Steaks in Organic Olive Oil, $4.99 for 160g.
Fish 4 Ever does everything by the book. Its fish is pole-and-line caught (preventing turtles and dolphins getting caught in the nets), you can track EXACTLY where your fish is caught on its website, and more than 70 per cent of its products are certified sustainable by the Marine Stewardship Council. No wonder Greenpeace named it the best brand of canned tuna!
While we still prefer small fish for sustainability and mercury-related reasons, Fish 4 Ever tops our list. It’s chunky, tasty and drenched in olive oil… delicious.
Matt, programs coordinator: “I love using tuna in salads as the oil becomes the dressing. Add a squeeze of lemon and you’re set!”
John West Mackerel Fillets in Brine, $2.26 for 125g.
Many John West products are certified sustainable by the Marine Stewardship Council, including these mackerel fillets. But unfortunately, the label does not clarify which kind of mackerel it is (they can range from bottom-feeders to larger predators).
The mackerel was surprisingly the strongest tasting of the lot, which split opinions! If you like a “fishy” taste, this one’s for you.
Andre, chief technical officer: “I haven’t had canned mackerel before, but I quite like it. It’s very fishy, but in a good way!”
Tassal Premium Roasted Salmon in Springwater, $2.50 for 95g.
While Tassal Atlantic salmon is farmed instead of wild-caught, the Tasmanian fish farm was the first to be certified by the World Wide Fund for Nature as totally sustainable. It’s also the only salmon we could find from Australia – so points for less carbon miles!
The salmon itself has a beautifully sweet, smoky flavour and flaky pink flesh. A good one to try if you’re not usually a canned fish fan!
Rachel, writer: “It’s like smoked salmon in a can, just without the luxury price point.”
Capriccio Anchovy Fillets in Olive Oil with Hot Pepper, $3.99 for 50g (drained).
It was difficult to find fishing information on store-bought anchovies (they are almost exclusively imported). But, being such a small fish, they are very sustainable and a luxury item in any case. Anything that extremely salty should be consumed on special occasions!
Of all the canned fish, we were surprised by how much we loved this one. The hot pepper cuts through the salinity perfectly.
Jorge, head of marketing: “The anchovies are really good! You couldn’t eat too much, but they’d be a great little hors d’oeuvre.”
Are there any great sustainable canned fish brands we missed? What would you like us to taste next?
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