Take Marlin off the Menu...even in Wilm, De

[bigfishhooker]

Had to travel up for a meeting with the chemical execs and after checking into my room Tuesday night, I headed over to Deep Blue in down town Wilmington for some food and libations. I sit down at the bar, order my cocktail and the waiter starts going through the specials. "Grilled Pacific Blue Marlin..."


"PPFFFT..WTF"? I almost spit my crown and coke at him as I envisioned 40 miles of long-lined hooks with a lifetime supply of billfish dangling from them.

I politely asked to pay my bill and had to find some other place to eat. The waiter was decent about it and actually went with his manager to see that it was available to be sold in the US and replied that he wasn't aware it was an issue.

I don't normally get political, but I just can't support it. I pass it on and let you decide if you still eat there when you are in Wilmington.

[WAHOONBOX]

NO IMPORTS OF FOREIGN FISH, FARMED FISH, OR SHELLFISH NETTED OR FARMED PERIOD !!!!!!


SUPPORT THE AMERICAN COMMERCIAL FISHERMEN BY ASKING FOR U.S. WILD CAUGHT FISH AND SHELLFISH


I HOPE YOU WALKED OUT WITHOUT PAYING FOR YOUR DRINK....

[Nauti Natured]

NO IMPORTS OF FOREIGN FISH, FARMED FISH, OR SHELLFISH NETTED OR FARMED PERIOD !!!!!!


SUPPORT THE AMERICAN COMMERCIAL FISHERMEN BY ASKING FOR U.S. WILD CAUGHT FISH AND SHELLFISH


I HOPE YOU WALKED OUT WITHOUT PAYING FOR YOUR DRINK....

Excactly my thought. I REFUSE to buy anything but American caught seafood after many bad experiences in the past few years. The F'in Harris Teeter makes me want to vomit. In Wilmington, NC .... literally 100 feet from the water line of one of the most amazing fisheries in the country and they are selling "Product of Ecuador" Mahi and wahoo. WTF???? Makes me so mad.

[Nauti Natured]

Had to travel up for a meeting with the chemical execs and after checking into my room Tuesday night, I headed over to Deep Blue in down town Wilmington for some food and libations. I sit down at the bar, order my cocktail and the waiter starts going through the specials. "Grilled Pacific Blue Marlin..."


"PPFFFT..WTF"? I almost spit my crown and coke at him as I envisioned 40 miles of long-lined hooks with a lifetime supply of billfish dangling from them.

I politely asked to pay my bill and had to find some other place to eat. The waiter was decent about it and actually went with his manager to see that it was available to be sold in the US and replied that he wasn't aware it was an issue.

I don't normally get political, but I just can't support it. I pass it on and let you decide if you still eat there when you are in Wilmington.

That **** would get me fired up too. Your post brings up a question, though .... What, actually, is the law about buying, selling, Serving Blue Marlin in the states?

[jaws]

It pisses me off when I go to our NC coast, you sit down in A resteraunt 100 yards from the Atlantic Ocean and the fish special is Talapia.

[scattered_grass]

It pisses me off when I go to our NC coast, you sit down in A resteraunt 100 yards from the Atlantic Ocean and the fish special is Talapia.

no kiddin!

[bigfishhooker]

I paid for my drink...I didn't want to waste what tasted to be a nice pour and I'm just not that low dollar after managing a bar in Chapel Hill. The waiter/bartender supposedly looked up the regs and had some justification that I half way didn't hear nor listen to. I was already on my way out.

[Fin Hunter]

It appears that it is only illegal for any US commercial vessel to posess or sale Billfish with the exception of Swordfish. No where can I find that it is illegal to import them. The real problem here is there is a demand for Billfish on the table in the US. NO demand = NO need to import them to the US.

In the United States, it is illegal to harvest any billfish, other than swordfish, from the Atlantic
Ocean for commercial sale. According to highly migratory species (HMS) regulations 50
CFR part 635, a billfish Certification of Eligibility (COE) is required to remain in association
with any billfish product throughout the chain of custody up to, but not including, the consumer
to certify that billfish product was not caught in the Atlantic. The first purchaser of a billfish
product is required to complete the COE. Unfortunately, there is no requirement for this form
to be submitted to NMFS, any other government body or otherwise retained by dealers. The
COE accompanies the product to consumption and dealers are free to dispose of the form as
they see fit. If this form were to be collected and recorded by NMFS, this would be a way to
track the trade patterns of billfish and billfish products once they enter the United States.
Currently, there is no way to track fisheries products from the country of origin to the consumers’
plates for any species. Additionally, customs officials have no responsibility to check the
COE for products coming into this country.

[Charlie]

Ive eaten blue marlin. It aint bad. Especially smoked. But Im with you. Dont like to see it on a menu. Swordfish either.

[scattered_grass]

Ive eaten blue marlin. It aint bad. Especially smoked. But Im with you. Dont like to see it on a menu. Swordfish either.

had some this past summer, smoked BM salad...amazing!