Last week, I touched on bycatch–fish caught unintentionally while trying for a different species–as a major source of seafood waste. One thing I neglected to mention is that quotas and regulations often make it difficult for fishermen to sell (or donate bycatch).
That’s why the new Oregon law allowing the use of what are currently called “waste fish” is so encouraging. It would allow fish caught accidentally to be processed and redistributed to food banks. It’s unclear just how it’ll work, but food processers will be allowed to sell some of the bycatch to offset their processing costs.
And, this being the Pacific Northwest…
In Oregon, bycatch is mostly salmon, caught while fishermen are fishing for whiting.
Hopefully, Oregon food banks will soon start reaping the benefit of this rule change, as healthy (local!) protein is often the hardest thing for non-profits to source. And if you’re looking for healthy, tasty protein, I’d say Oregon-caught salmon is right up there…
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