Side by Sides: Spanish Bluefin and American Bluefin Tuna

The bluefin that we use is fished in the Mediterranean Sea (FAO 371-372 and 373) by purse seine fleets.

Subsequently, the fattening stages are carried out in the farms located on the coast in order to obtain the optimal infiltration of fat. Tuna are basically fed with blue fish such as sardine or mackerel.

We call it “wild” because it is not a fish that is farmed in a fish farm since it is an egg, it has been born and has grown wild in the sea, and only in the final stage it has been in a farm in the Sea coast.

And of course all the process is controlled by the ICCAT (International Commission for the Conservation of the Atlantic Tuna).

Regarding certifications, there is no “certification” or information included in the tin itself. What we have for each batch of bluefin tuna that we buy, is the corresponding ICCAT document, in which is detailed all the traceability of the fishes:

• information about capture (ships, nationality, ICCAT register number of the ship, date, number of fishes, weight…)
• Commercial information regarding the alive fishes (number of fishes, company, farm of destination, date,
• Information about transference of the fishes: transfer declaration, ship, nationality, etc.
• Information about feed  (farm, localization, cage number, number of fishes, weights, etc)
• Information about sacrifice (date, number of fishes, weight, ..)
• Commercial information: port of export, seller company, date, buyer company, etc.

Each of this information with the validation of the government authorities of each department.

It is delicious. Its taste is more intense than the white tuna and the meat has a special firm texture. It’s also an excellent source of protein, vitamins, minerals and Omega 3 fatty acids and has heart-healthy properties.

El Capricho dominated the overall and tuna categories at worldbestfish.com with their Bonito del Norte (albacore) products. Kinda makes you wonder how their canned Bluefin tuna is, doesn’t it? It did us.

We’ll add tasting notes as soon as we get a tin opened and photographed and tasted.

110g (3.88 oz) tin

Dan’s tasting notes:  Best tinned tuna product I’ve ever eaten, period. Pristine clean flavor and impeccable texture.

“Know your farmer” they say, and most of our customers subscribe to that philosophy. Now, thanks to Keper Connell, we can say, “Know your fisherman.” Every Atlantic Bluefin from Gulf of Maine Conservas is caught by Keper with a rod and a reel, and then carefully preserved in olive oil. In conversation he tells me, “To the best of my knowledge, the domestic or American conservas is a mere seedling in the zeitgeist in the food world, let alone the American palate. I am very eager to see where you take my product. I am also very interested in your tomatoes, when the time is right.”

Small batch and sustainable is the future we advocate for. And not just because it tastes better, but, it does taste better.

One single can of Wild Bluefin Tuna hand-packed in olive oil. Line caught in the Gulf of Maine.

Gulf of Maine Conservas Serving Suggestions (pdf)

Each can is 6 oz, and carries a sticker with a QR code that will show you an industry-leading amount of detail about the catch.