Halibut and Sablefish

Sablefish (Blackcod)

braised sablefish

Properly known as blackcod, "sablefish" is another premium species well known to West Coast seafood lovers for its large flakes of buttery white meat.

Like halibut, they are also caught using bottom longline gear, and this fishery is also very well-managed to maintain healthy population levels indefinitely.   It, too, is a worldwide model for proper fishery management, and like the Alaskan salmon and halibut fisheries, it was recently certified as "sustainable" by the international Marine Stewardship Council (MSC).



The fish we provide are obtained primarily from the Seafood Producers Cooperative (SPC) plant in Sitka, Alaska. There they are bled, eviscerated, cleaned thoroughly and carefully placed on crushed ice. They are flown overnight to us and we deliver them fresh to chefs no more than two to three days after they were caught.  Since they freeze well, we also deliver frozen blackcod from SPC during the winter months. Our blackcod average 9 lbs (head off) and range in size from about 6 - 19 lbs.

Alaskan blackcod exhibits a rich, succulent flavor and a velvety texture. It has beautiful snow-white fillets that flake perfectly and are melt-in-your-mouth delicious!

Its succulence is often compared to Chilean sea bass, for which it is an excellent substitute.

Some people call it sablefish because of the soft, delicate texture.

It is rich in heart-healthy Omega-3 fatty acids.

Bon Appetit Magazine featured blackcod on their list of Top 10 Hot Ingredients (January 2005 issue).

The harvest season opens in mid-March and runs through mid-November - practically year round!

Alaska boasts the largest blackcod population in the world, thanks to the state's tight regulations to ensure sustainability of its seafood species.

Sablefish image courtesy Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute

(Serving images courtesy Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute)

Harvesting areas are shown below. The fishing season begins in mid-March and extends through mid-November. Fresh sablefish is thus available throughout this period, and frozen product is available year-round.

Sablefish harvest area map courtesy Seafood Producers Cooperative