Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi,

New member here. I'm interested in a whole bunch of different things and I came across aquaponics today and did a little research. Seems to be a fast-growing activity and science and I'd figure I'd chime in with what I could: fish killing. There are not too many audiences that I have quick access to that also slaughter fish on a regular basis, so it came as a bit of a surprise that I could divulge this information.

Current research indicates that fish tastes best when killed in a manner that includes the destruction of the spinal cord. Please see the below links:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HoPTTVkL6s0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lckYtOBTt48
http://www.360tuna.com/forum/f20/ike-ji ... ushi-8821/ (Dave Arnold at cookingissues.net had a great series of articles but his blog is currently down)

Note that in all examples, the fish is opened up at both ends for two reasons: first, to accelerate the removal of blood, and second, to expose the spinal cord. The spinal cord is then destroyed with a stainless steel wire, or is ruptured and/or removed with compressed air. If the spinal cord is left intact, even after the fish dies, the muscles naturally keep working and consume ATP. The lack of ATP slows down the release of rigor mortis, and because of this, there is a stronger "decay" component in the flavor once rigor mortis is resolved.

Destroying the brain is optional - as is visible in the videos - but should be considered, especially from a humanitarian standpoint.

interesting reading - wonder what the japenese technique is for sharks? Theres a wide difference in opinion on best way o prep them for eating - some say take of fins, tail, head, guts, bloodline, others say bleeding out is enough.

Would be an interesting test to do on trout...

Running the wire up the spine is not needed unless you are taking fillels. First is always a quick blow to the head either with a blunger or spike to the brain.

If not taking fillets just gut and gill your catch. This information came from one of the top Japanese chiefs while he was explaining their method of killing fish. For the majority of aquaponic fish not needed.

Iki Jimi has been talked about a few thousamd times on the forum.

When I lived in Lakes Entrance (S.E.Vic) the local Co-op got the contract for tuna to Japan - it had to be killed and in Japan within some ridiculous time - might have been 24 hours even - that they were very specific about how it had to be killed. From memory (it was 1981 or so) it was an iron spike into the brain to kill it. Fish could not be frozen at all - and being a lover of sashimi I can understand why.

The boats installed tanks to keep the tuna alive till they could get into port otherwise most of their catch would be dead too long to match contract standards.

Trout I remember when I was a kid, we always broke the neck and bled them out as soon as we caught them - I didn't know why it was just 'how things were done.'

I just filet them if I get them out of my tank. Wild fish I throw on ice then clean when I get home.

I havent killed a fish since fishing with my pop 30 odd years ago, but what ever happened to a sharp

whack between the eyes with the square back of a butchers clever and lopping off the head?

then gutting and scaling them?

Don't kids do that anymore?

when did all this change!!!

It is called "animal ethics".

Not everyone has been brought up like our parents taught us. Some people are extremely sensitive and others just don't care.
A bit like the good Ol' smack on the bum that you are not allowed to do any more as some take it to the extreme.

nah thats old fashion western style

fare east with sushi............ much more sofisticated

http://youtu.be/YP-oRwpLFFI

cheers

Perfectly legal to smack on the bum here, the school my kids go to still do it. My kids get thrown over my knee any time they need it.

Thats why O love texas so much.... they still have smacking and the neighbour law which is my personal favorite

We have some pretty good laws, but some stupid ones as well.

Why?

Got no idea... figure the only thing needed for fillets... is a knife...

Sorry I know this a serios subject but it reminded me of a fishing trip I did years ago.
Took a bloke from work fishing that had never done any of it before.

We got out on the bay without a lot of bait, the plan was to catch a couple of fish for bait first.

After catching them It soon became apparent that I had left my knifes at home. so I proceded to tare them apart still kicking, and pulled them to bits and offered him a couple of nice fresh baits.

Poor chap was to busy hanging over the side throwing his breakfast to the ocean to do any fishing that morning, I guess it must have some thing he had eaten...