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Autumn is a great time for sustainable seafood

Posted on: 22nd September 2015

Autumn is a great time for sustainable seafood

Although the summer crowds have dispersed in most of our seaside towns seafood is arguably at its peak in the autumn!

This summer was slow to get started and temperatures never really got high but thanks to the warming effects of the gulfstream we how have nice warm temperatures in the sea and although the air temperature can fall rapidly this time of year it takes alot longer for the sea to cool down. 

There have been some reports of squid moving inshore, and line fishermen will soon be targeting them off Sennen and in and around Falmouth bay. Squid are fast growing molluscs that only live for one year. they are caught using unbaited lures called pirks and Cornish squid grow up to one meter in length. 

After months of rapid growth and regular shell shedding crustaceans such as edible (brown) crabs, lobster and spider crab are now filling their new shells with muscle meaning their quality is far higher than during the summer months.  The best choice is Cornish pot caught shellfish!

Mackerel are still about although it hasn't been a good year according to the South West Handline fishermans association. Local handline caught mackerel is delicious sustainable and really good for you. 

The traditional Fal Oyster fishery will be back in full swing with the season starting on the 1st of October. This traditional fishery was frozen in time thanks to forward thinking management set up over 150 years ago which banned the use of engines. To this day the fishery is still inefficient and as sustainable as ever and the traditional Falmouth oyster boats can be seen collecting native oysters under sail on the oyster beds on Mondays to Saturdays through the winter. 

Mussels grown in St Austell bay and in the Fal Estuary are now fattening up and those harvested in the autumn have the best meat to weight ratio! 

We are spoilt for choice in Cornwall and we should all be supporting these sustainable fisheries! find out where to buy Cornish seafood by visiting our directory.

 

Cornwall Good Seafood Guide is underpinned by the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) Good Fish Guide. The first UK consumer guide to sustainable seafood. For more information visit www.fishonline.org

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