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Completely Farm-Bred Unagi, a World First
JoshuaInNippon writes "Japanese scientists at the National Research Institute of Aquaculture, Fisheries Research Agency have reported that they successfully completed an artificial cultivation cycle for unagi, or eel — a world first. Unagi is a traditional delicacy in Japan, and can commonly be found in baked form at sushi restaurants. The fish has long been caught either matured, or still young and then fattened on farms. Sadly, as a result, natural stocks of unagi have plummeted in recent years. However, the research news indicates a future method to completely farm breed the tasty creature in mass quantity. Good news for sushi lovers, Japanese businesses, and wild eel alike."
Good news for sushi-lovers, Japanese businesses, and wild eel alike.
In the US Pacific Northwest, it has been found that farm raising salmon significantly hurt the wild populations.
Some of those farmed fish can escape affect the gene pool!
Shhh.. you're not supposed to make "Friends" references on /. (unless it's to say how lame the show was.) Someone might ask you to turn in your Geek card.
Salmon farm fishing is a disaster. Shrimp are not much better. I don't know how the tilapia production is fairing. Tilapia are not predators like salmon, so I imagine it might be better, but I have no idea.
Answer: stop eating fish. Sorry.
Shoes for Industry. Shoes for the Dead.
What's this we shit? You got a mouse in your pocket?
I've been to Scotland - I took one look at haggis and I suddenly didn't feel so international anymore.
We can pretty much get away with anything without losing geek cred.
Jacob or Edward?
And why?
/me ducks
Funny you mention that.
Unagi is horribly expensive ($18/US per package) if you want the Japanese-sourced unagi. The Chinese unagi is much cheaper ($4-5/US per package), but there have been problems with the chemicals, antibiotics, and other crap they feed them.
Anago is readily available here in Los Angeles at a moderate price, but unagi kabayaki is definitely where its at.
I tried every decent and legal way I could think of to resolve the issue w/the business before I rented the chicken suit
For what its worth, Eel consumption is also rather common in any area of Europe where Eel happens to be found, its not at all some "crazy" unique Japanese thing.
So is *this* finally an example of something the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture is in charge of? Because I know we ruled out their authority with respect to Gundum.
Information theory is life. The rest is just the KL divergence.
Actually I should clarify, because I wasn't being quite honest or accurate in my previous post. The invasive species in the South East U.S. is a different species than the eels in question in the article. The pest fish that escaped the farms is the Asian Swamp Eel. While it is often sold as "unagi" and is somewhat analogous in flavor, the specific eel in question is the Japanese Eel, which does not live in the Western Hemisphere. The Asian Swamp Eel is actually from a different taxonomic order.
The closest analog in the Western Hemisphere is the American Eel, which is also endangered, partly due to the invasion of the Asian Swamp Eel.
That said, the Asian Swamp Eel works perfectly fine in similar roles, and is quite tasty. Unfortunately you can't really call it "unagi" in a respectable Japanese fish market, even if it's called that when sold in many fish markets outside of Japan.