What do you prefer, a story or facts? What about both? How about the tuna stories behind the owner and interesting food facts for the other family member who usually quits cooking fish?
This port city of Manta in the South Pacific in Ecuador is known as tuna fishing in South America. At the moment, I see several tuna boats anchored in the port. In fact, it's a great place to get information from men who really enjoy this type of fishing.
For example, did you know that tuna comes in different sizes? We know that a member of this fish family can weigh up to 680 kg and more! No wonder some local fishermen call it horse mackerel! Sauteed tuna but a modest 10-15 pounds (4.5-6.8 pounds).
These commercial fishermen are mainly interested in two species, mackerel and yellow fin. Of the two, the yellow fin is larger, sometimes weighing up to 54 pounds. It is generally preferred for storage due to its higher proportion of white meat. But invariably, local fishermen say they prefer the smaller tuna because it has a lot more flavor and isn't as dry and tasteless as the big fish.
Tuna fishing
A friendly captain I have spoken to here is of Yugoslav origin. After spending 25 years on the Pacific coast, he was able to exchange very interesting information based on his personal experiences. At first I was surprised to learn what a tuna stand looks like. “When you're looking for fish,” the captain explained, “you keep a man from six in the morning until six at night in the tree. He must have a very clear vision because our success depends on his ability to locate fish. In fact, you are looking for a flock of sea birds. You see, the tuna does what we do. They are looking for food. Once we find the right temperature in the water and the little bait the tuna feeds on, we are sure to have a good catch. ""
"But how do the birds fit into the picture?"I asked.
"Well, let me describe a typical scene where fish are feeding," replied the captain. “In the distance, the man at the watchtower sees this flock of seabirds spinning and diving. As we get closer, we can see these giant fish breaking through the water in a frenzy. Thousands of baitfish jump up and try to escape the tuna below as the frigates dive from below trying to catch a flying meal. ""
Believe me, when I heard the lively description of this captain underlined by his emphatic gestures, he gave me fishing fever!
Skills and experience are required
Here in Manta, I've learned that tuna is generally fished in two ways. If it is bait, the men start fishing immediately. This is a live bait boat. These are thrown into the school of tuna to keep them close to the surface of the water and close to the boat. At the same time, the crew threw short rows of fishing gear. If the tuna bites, the stencil suspects that it is a small fish and pulls it into the boat. This continues until the tuna is gone or the boat is full.
Or the boat can be his. In this case, the fish is caught in a long net or on a spinning wheel. It is a method which requires great skill, common sense and experience. Before casting the net, experts should examine the school of tuna and answer a few key questions. How big is it, will it reach 30, 60 or more than 100 tons? This is important because an overloaded boat or network can lead to death or expensive equipment.
Once it is decided that the crew and ship can run a particular school, they must launch a smaller speedboat that holds the end of a long net, the average size of which is about 500 meters and of about 55 meters. Depth meters. When the net is removed, the boat will make a large circle around the fish whenever possible. When this is done, the other end of the network joins the mothership. Electric winches now begin to pull both ends of the net. Now, different things can happen.
If you tighten a side too quickly, the net may get stuck and the fish will completely escape. If the water is very clear, the tuna can see the net and swim under it. For this reason, fishermen generally prefer slightly cloudy water. However, one fisherman said he saw times when the water was very clear and the fish were still not swimming under the net. Since? At this point, it was discovered that there was a layer of cold water underneath and the tuna refused to come in to swim under the net to escape.
If sharks are nearby, they can throw holes in the net and much of the catch can escape. This happens when a fish is caught in the net. Suddenly a shark will appear, catch the fish and tear the net in the meantime. Another experienced fisherman told me that there seems to be something about the taste of nylon nets that sharks love because they often seem to punch holes in the net for no apparent reason.
But sharks are often caught in the net with tuna. So? They are usually available as part of the acquisition. Surprisingly, some say that sharks are not dangerous when they are online. There are several reports of crew members who had to dive into the water to repair a hole in the net and always stayed within the inner circle of the net. Later, when the catch was lifted, large sharks were found trapped inside.
One fisherman explained it this way: “Look, the shark only thinks when it gets caught in the net: go out. So go back and forth and look for a way out. I would not be afraid to swim with half a dozen sharks in the net. "But," he hastily added, "I would not do the same in the open sea!"
Slightly more dangerous than sharks
When fish are imported, there is something potentially more dangerous than sharks: the open sea and the enormous weight of the caught tuna. Handling a weight of 60 to 100 tons requires extreme care.
Then a fisherman explained it to him. “When the net gets smaller, the fish do not know where to go. They panic and try to leave. And how attractive! Have you ever heard a big fish jerk on the line? Think about what it is like to have 3,000 to 4,000 fish online and the boat at the same time. He remembers an experience where another captain miscalculated and circled a tuna school that was too big for the boat. Suddenly the fish ran away. The stern of the ship began to sink. But at this point, the cables that kept the network under voltage gave out. The fish and steak, which cost thousands of dollars, disappeared and were never seen again. A very expensive lesson, but it may have cost them their lives.
The high seas are also dangerous, especially when it comes to catching water. When the ship floats to the surface, it lifts a large wave a few meters into the air, but the footprint tends to remain even in the water. You can easily see how much additional pressure is now being put on your computer. To prove his point, the captain marked his ship where one of the large spears was repaired. "It broke like a match when the wave hit." But then he assured me, "Fortunately, no one was injured and we were able to recover from an impromptu crash."
After a successful transport, the fish is quickly placed in the hatch on ice or cold brine, and a tired but happy team goes to the processing plant.
Food data
When the fish arrive at the tonnara, they are separated according to their size before being cleaned and steamed. This is necessary for the fish to cook evenly, as larger fish take longer to cook than smaller ones. After cooking, the fish is allowed to cool overnight. Then the meat is easily removed from the bones and the skin is removed. It then goes through a series of sharp knives that cut the fish into pieces that are ready to be preserved. The solid pieces are available in so-called piles or pieces here and are more expensive. The small pieces are preserved in the form of stripes, ie grated tuna.
Here are some interesting facts about the nutritional value of this "sea chicken" that you may not know. It is said that canned tuna consists of a nutrient which the human body can consume 80%. Its protein content is much higher than popular meats like veal, lamb, and pork. At the same time, its calorie content is significantly lower, especially if the oil is drained or packed in water. Marine fish, including tuna, are also a good source of iodine, according to trade authorities.
You might be hungry after all this fish talk. If so, here's a tuna salad recipe that can be resolved quickly. Take a can of tuna, empty it and crumble it. Add half a cup of chopped celery, a tablespoon of lemon juice, a quarter of chopped sweet cucumber and season with a third cup of the dressing. You can serve it on a crispy crust or, if you prefer, on toast like a delicious tuna sandwich.
Another favorite among many is the creamy tuna. To prepare a meal for two, the sauce is prepared by melting two tablespoons of butter or margarine in a saucepan. Then add two tablespoons of flour and mix well to avoid lumps. Add half a teaspoon of salt and mix in a cup of milk. When the sauce begins to thicken, add an empty, chopped can of tuna. This creamy tuna can now be served hot over mashed potatoes, rice, pasta or toast.
Of course, fresh tuna is preferred by those who live near the sea where it is found. A local favorite here in Ecuador is called breaded tuna, which means breaded tuna. The fish is threaded into thin strips for quick frying. Then it is dipped in a butter made from flour, eggs and breadcrumbs. Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve hot from the pan and sprinkle with a little lemon juice. For a change, the tuna can be cooked whole. Halfway through cooking, add a spicy sauce with flour, milk, butter, salt and pepper, mixed with two cubes of chicken broth and a glass of mushrooms. It's really delicious!
And there are a variety of other ways to cook tuna such as: B. Tuna stew, tuna pies and even tuna fondue.
There are also facts that make us think about the future delivery of this precious fish. Here on the Pacific coast, from Canada to Peru, there are around 300 tuna vessels. Some come from Spain, the Netherlands and Japan in search of tuna. Although catches have been fairly constant, other signs show that the supply is not as large as in previous years. For example, now that the boats are getting bigger and bigger, it's no surprise that the tuna set is as big, if not bigger, than before. However, the average duration of the fishing trip continues to increase, making it more and more difficult to find fish. International disputes over fishing rights, which we have seldom heard about for years, are also a testament to growing demand and falling supply.
The history of the tuna boat does not seem to have a happy future, at least for the moment. What is the solution for him and for other pressing problems is a question that needs to be discussed at another time. At this point we need to return to Manta, here in Ecuador, as it will continue to be an important data and information center for the tuna industry.
Good article thanks