The UK's First Canned Bluefin Tuna
A fishing innovation last year happened when the UK witnessed a historic moment as licensed fishing for bluefin tuna became a reality. The burgeoning market for these magnificent fish has presented a challenge for buyers: how to handle, prepare, and process them to perfection.
Enter Chris Ranger, an oyster fisherman and sustainable fish canning pioneer based in Mylor on Cornwall's picturesque Fal Estuary. Over the past 2 years he has pioneered canning shellfish in Cornwall, then this year started validating #TinnedFish including pilchards, mackerel and haddock, and in November started the Bluefin Tuna production.
Now, in collaboration with fellow fisherman Chris Gill from Mevagissey, he's turning his attention to bluefin tuna. By producing small-batch runs of canned bluefin tuna cuts, Chris is setting a new standard for sustainable seafood preservation.
"This was such an epic experience, and I cannot thank my ol' school mate from the 1980s, Chris Gill, he is a pioneer in the Cornish Bluefin Tuna industry, he spent years on the 'catch and release' program, studying the stocks and then writing the Cornish Tuna Fishery Management Plan, he is one of the few registered and licensed commercial fisherman, and operates out of Mevagissey.
So, following a chance catch up, he invited me to come and catch a Cornish Bluefin Tuna so that I could can it in my Cornish Canning Co cannery, at Mylor Harbour, probably the first tuna to be caught and canned in Cornwall, and it was caught just off the coast between the two harbours...
Two fish were caught that day, a 74kg, the one in the cool bag, which we filleted without filming, then the one I caught, 56.6kg, which is in the time lapse footage, both caught using rod and line, just off the Cornish Coast aboard 'AQUILA' FY324, Official Landing Number - ICCAT 71"
This is just one of many of Chris' adventures over the years, from pop-ups, festivals, Ranger's Oyster Bars, Cornish Canning Co, and the new Tinned Fish Cafe.
