The sablefish, Anoplopoma fimbria, is one of two members of the fish family Anoplopomatidae and the only species in the Anoplopoma genus. In English, common names for it include sable (USA), black cod (USA, UK, Canada), blue cod (UK), bluefish (UK), candlefish (UK), coal cod (UK), coalfish (Canada), beshow and skil(fish) (Canada), although many of these names also refer to other, unrelated, species.^[1] In the USA, FDA accepts only "sablefish" as the Acceptable Market Name; ‘black cod” is considered a vernacular (regional) name and should not be used as a Statement of Identity for this species.^[2] The sable fish is found in muddy sea beds in the North Pacific at depths of 300 to 2,700 m (1000 to 9000 ft) and is commercially important to Japan.

The white flesh of the sablefish is soft-textured and mild flavored. It is considered a delicacy in many countries. When cooked its flaky texture is similar to Patagonian toothfish (Chilean sea bass). The meat has a high fat content and can be prepared in many ways including baking, broiling, grilling, smoking, frying or served as sushi.

Ecology [edit]

The sablefish (Anoplopoma fimbria) is a species of deep sea fish common to the North Pacific ocean. Adult sablefish are opportunistic feeders, preying on fish (including walleye pollock, eulachon, capelin, herring, sandlance, and Pacific cod), squid, euphausiids, jellyfish (Yang and Nelson 2000). Sablefish are long-lived, with a maximum recorded age of 94 years (Kimura et al. 1998).

Nutrition [edit]

Sablefish are very high in long-chain omega 3 fatty acids, EPA and DHA. It contains approximately as much as wild salmon.^{[citation needed][3]}

In popular culture [edit]

Sablefish made an appearance in the HBO comedy series Curb Your Enthusiasm (Season 5, Episode 1) as an ingredient in the "Larry David Sandwich" sold at a local delicatessen.

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  Sablefish resting on soft sediment 2,625 feet deep

Notes [edit]

References [edit]

• "Anoplopoma fimbria". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 24 January 2006. 
• Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2005). "Anoplopoma fimbria" in FishBase. 10 2005 version.
• Alaskan sablefish stock assessment
• [1]
• Yang, M-S and M. W. Nelson 2000. Food habits of the commercially important groundfishes in the Gulf of Alaska in 1990, 1993, and 1996. NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-AFSC-112. 174 p.
• Kimura, Daniel K., A. M. Shaw and F. R. Shaw 1998. Stock Structure and movement of tagged sablefish, Anoplopoma fimbria, in offshore northeast Pacific waters and the effects of El Nino-Southern Oscillation on migration and growth. Fish. Bull. 96:462-481.
• Sablefish NOAA FishWatch. Retrieved 7 November 2012.