NO CATCHES
Today’s convenient seafood packs a sustainable, flavorful punch.
WE’VE COME A LONG WAY from Chicken of the Sea. Today, you can enjoy seafood beyond the confines of a restaurant—though we might avoid Subway with the whole no-tuna-found-inits-tuna fiasco. Brands are offering gourmet seafood you can eat directly out of a can or pouch while camping in the backcountry, hiking a 14er or simply whipping up a quick lunch at home. And it’s not just tuna. You can snack on smoked mussels and octopus in garlic-infused olive oil. Seafood is a superfood in its own right, providing muscle-, heart- and bone-healthy omega-3 fatty acids as well as key vitamins and minerals. You get lots of sustaining protein with little fat. Moreover, all of these picks rank high in sustainability. Some are caught without bycatching. Others are traceable from ocean to pantry, and all boast recyclable packaging. Best of all? None require cooking. Just open and go to town. Consider it the Feast of the Sustainable Fishes.
PATAGONIA PROVISIONS MUSSELS
From the outdoor industry leader in sustainability comes a three-pack of tinned mussels—lemon Herb, Savory Sofrito and Smoked—fit for tapas or the trail. Sourced from Spain, they grow plump on long underwater ropes, one of the most sustainable forms of aquaculture. The mussels naturally filter the water around them by feeding on microplankton. Each tin has 15g protein and is brimming with coastal flavor (think: bright lemon, savory sherry and zesty paprika). $21/3 cans; patagoniaprovisions.com
GÜEYU MAR CHARGRILLED SARDINE TAILS IN ESCABECHE
As craft as it gets, these hand-cut sardines are grilled over an open fire of holm oak wood and packed by hand in escabeche sauce—a traditional Spanish medley of premium olive oil, vinegar, onion, paprika and spices. Chef Abel Álvarez cooks everything in his intimate restaurant on the coast of Asturias. Sardines have healthy omega-3s as well as calcium and vitamin D. Serve with crusty bread while hosting a dinner party or enjoy at a scenic vista mid-hike. $21.49; lata.shop
WILD PLANET ALBACORE WILD TUNA
Wild Planet strictly utilizes pole or line catching to avoid bycatching—when other sea life is mistakenly caught in netting. The company also partners with
Trace Register, allowing it to track each boatload of albacore from catch to can to shelf. All tuna is caught, immediately frozen, cleaned, trimmed and packed, then cooked in the can with just a touch of sea salt—no water. Each flaky, flavorful serving has 21g protein. Add to salads or sandwiches. $24/4 cans; wildplanetfoods.com
JOSÉ GOURMET CANNED PORTUGUESE OCTOPUS IN OLIVE OIL
This Portugal-based company prides itself on the traditions of yore, when tinned seafood wasn’t indistinguishable mush but preserved delicacies. Its octopus is caught with environmentally sourced fishing gear and packed with just olive oil and salt. The brand ensures sustainable management of waste and aligns fishing with seasonality to protect habitats. Its recycled packaging has illustrations pretty enough to be collectibles. $21.49; lata.shop
SAFE CATCH WILD PACIFIC PINK SALMON
Each sashimi-grade salmon steak is hand-tested to ensure it’s 25 times lower in mercury than what the FDA demands. The pouches (21g protein) are void of water and fillers—just massage before opening so the salmon’s natural oils and omega-3 fatty acids reabsorb. Safe Catch follows the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch program, which sets standards in sustainable fishing practices to protect turtles and other sea life from being harmed. $35.99/12-pack; safecatch.com