Last updated: 16 December, 2024 @ 14:40
A fish finger made from lesser-know species of fish such as dogfish and pouting has been launched in Plymouth.
The Plymouth Fish Finger, by the Plymouth Fishing and Seafood Association (PFSA), Sole of Discretion – a collective of small-scale fishers, and the University of Plymouth, has been launched as part of the Seafood Plymouth campaign – which aims to encourage people to eat more locally caught fish whilst supporting fishing communities.
Inspiring consumption of local fish
Edward Baker, CEO of the PFSA and Seafood Plymouth told the commercial fishing industry publication Fishing News that The Plymouth Fish Finger was created to increase the accessibility to and understanding of local sources of fish.
“By creating a fishfinger we are using a known product to introduce people to less know fish. In this way we hope to increase consumption of fish, which is important because the national guidelines are for two portions of fish per week, but the average is only one portion,” he said.
“We are also inspiring and facilitating the consumption of local fish, which benefits the local fishermen by helping to create a demand for local fish and a switch away from imported or farmed fish.”
Designing a ‘Plymouth Fish Finger’
The project is part of work being done at the University of Plymouth, led by Dr Clare Pettinger, which is researching ways of improving access to food that is healthy, affordable and sustainable for local people. The intention is to get the Plymouth Fish Finger into the local school meal system.
“Plymouth is an Ocean City, and we are surrounded by the sea, and yet most of our local fish goes off to be consumed in other places,” said Dr Clare Pettinger.
“We know from our research that local people do want to eat more fish, but there are often barriers in the way.
“We decided to get local people involved in designing a new ‘Plymouth Fish Finger’ as a way of tackling these issues.”
More reading
If you’re in search of an unfashionable and underused species of fish then why not take a look at the gurnard family.
Once used as bait for lobster pots, the gurnard is easy to cook and great to eat, especially when roasted whole. Read the Fish Face Seafood Blog guide to gurnard, and discover a new favourite.
(Stock image)