HOW WE DO IT BETTER
Catch Method
Sacred Sea brand Oregon coastal troll-caught Albacore is hook-and-line caught by surface troll method, making it the “cleanest” most sustainable fishery in the world. Catching one fish at a time instead of using nets or long lines that are used in conventional fishing operations enables us to treat each fish humanely and individually for the maximum quality and nutrition.
On-Board Operations
Each fish is humanely dispatched the moment it is put aboard the boat. This eliminates the bruising and meat damage seen in conventionally handled albacore. The fish are immediately” vertically” bled which results in 30% more bleed-out. As soon as the fish are bled they are flash frozen by brine immersion, which is the fastest most efficient method of freezing.
Single Cooking vs. Double Cooking
In the conventional canning process, the fish are cooked whole in a pressure cooker. The majority of the oils, the source of the most desirable nutrition, are cooked out and left on the cooker floor. What is left is taken off of the bone and packed into a can, where it is fully cooked for a second time.
In our Sacred Sea process, the fish are filleted raw and hand-packed into cans where they are retorted (cooked) once in the can. Through our process, the nutritional value (and fresh taste) of the fish is still in the can… not on the floor!
ABOUT ALBACORE
ALBACORE TUNA (Thunnus alalunga)
This magnificent fish is a migratory species found in the temperate and tropical oceans of the world. The three-year-old albacore begins its journey from the coast of Japan, arriving off the coast of California in the spring. They head north, feeding along the West Coast where we are lucky enough to intercept them and bring some to market.