Archaeology of Seafood

WHAT IS A CATFISH? This fish is famous for their droopy whiskers.  Predominately freshwater, the catfish comes in a range of sizes throughout the world.  The Mekong variety for example can grow up to 10 feet (3 meters) and almost 500 lbs (227 kg) in size.  In general this fish prefers to live inland or […]

WHAT IS SEAWEED? Seaweed is a generic name for a large group of aquatic plant life including kelp that are composed of algae.  There are three basic types, red, green and brown.  Each plant is composed of a root structure, a stem and blades where most of the photosynthesis occurs.  Beds of seaweed play a […]

WHAT IS A CROAKER? The Atlantic croaker, also known as whiting or corvina (a different fish) is a ray-finned fish famous for the sound they make when they vibrate their swim bladders (gas filled organs that help fish to control their buoyancy) during mating.  Growing up to 2 feet in length, they have a silver […]

WHAT IS POLLACK? Depending on which side of the Atlantic you’re on, this whitefish goes by many names including Silver Bill, Boston Blue or Lythe.  To make this even more confusing, pollock and pollack fish are slightly different types of cod.  Delicate yet flaky, pollack is low in oil, making it less healthy but its flavor […]

WHAT IS A TROUT? This member of the salmon family is found mostly in freshwater.  However some species such as Rainbow trout will spend 2 to 3 years at sea before returning to freshwater to spawn.  Depending on the location, the colors and patterns that camoflauge this fish can dramatically vary.  They generally prefer cooler […]

WHAT IS BONITO FLAKE? Also known as katsuobushi, this ingredient was first made in the late 1600s.  The flesh of a bonito fish is dried, smoked, fermented and then grated into flakes.  A key ingredient in dashi (powdered fish broth made from bonito and kelp), this is a major source of the umami flavor that […]

WHAT IS A FLOUNDER? This member of the flatfish family is famous for having a pancake shape and 2 eyes on top.  At birth flounders look like all other fish having the same narrow head shape with 1 eye on each side.  But after their larval stage as the fish ages, one of their eyes […]

WHAT IS A SCALLOP? Scallop is a general term for any one of a number of saltwater bivalves (clams, oysters and mollusks) or the meat harvested from them.  The origin of the name comes from the French term “escalope” a term for a piece of boneless meat.  In general they tend to be mobile swimming […]

WHAT IS A PLAICE? A popular fish and chips option in the Mediterranean , the name actually refers to 4 different types of flatfish.  Plaice is a derivation of the Greek term platys a.k.a. “broad.” However when born they have a normal shape.  They then gradually become flatter and flatter during the first few weeks […]

WHAT IS A HADDOCK? Native to the North Atlantic, this cousin of the cod is silver in color .  A bottom dwelling fish, it has a long, tapered body with a small mouth and 3 dorsal fins.  The upper part of the body can vary in color ranging from grey to black while the lower […]

WHAT IS AN ORANGE ROUGHY? Also known as slimeheads, this deep sea fish didn’t look or sound that appetizing.  With mucous producing canals on top of bony heads and spiky fins, few restaurants were asking for this fish.  That is until New Zealand fisherman launched a marketing campaign under the new name orange roughy.  Much like the Chilean […]

WHAT IS AN OCTOPUS? These creatures have been the basis of many a fisherman’s monster story since the dawn of time.  Aquatic carnivores, they can grow up to 600 lbs in size.  And this hunter has no problem holding its’ breath and climbing over rocks sticking out of the ocean.  Like the squid they are […]

WHAT IS CAVIAR? The name comes from the Persian term for “cake of power” since it was reserved only for kings.  Traditionally it’s made by curing the unfertilized roe (eggs) of wild sturgeon.  Famous for being expensive, it’s actually quite difficult to get these fish eggs.  An adult sturgeon can grow up to 3,000 lbs […]

WHAT IS A SARDINE? Also known as a pilchard, these small, oily fish are a delicacy in the Mediterranean.  Originally they were named after the island of Sardinia, there are almost 2 dozen different types of fish that are commercially packed as “sardines.”  Usually if the fish is under 6 inches (152 mm) it qualifies […]

WHAT IS A MONKFISH? The seafood equivalent of quince in terms of looks (ugly), monkfish goes by many names – anglerfish, frog fish and sea devil.  With a gigantic head in proportion to its body and a tiny set of beady eyes, this fish immediately evokes caution.  With such a viscous appearance, several species have become famous […]

WHAT IS A GROUPER? This legendary reef fish can easily weigh more then a small boat in some cases.  This lethargic fish with their giant months are not built for speed or distance.  What they lack in teeth they make up for with a vacuum-cleaner like mouth that sucks their prey in from a distance.  […]

WHAT IS A MULLET? This family of fish is found all over the world, but prefers warmer waters.  They are the garbage men of their neighborhoods feeding on dead organic material and zoo plankton.  Because of this they’ve developed especially muscular stomachs similar to a chicken’s gizzard.  Mullets tend to prefer shallow shorelines where they […]

WHAT IS A LOBSTER? These large, marine crustaceans have long, cylindrical bodies with five pairs of legs.  In the same family as other invertebrates like shrimp, their skeletons are on the outside.  In order to grow they must molt or shed their shells.  While the term “lobster” is used in the names of similar crustaceans, […]

WHAT IS A MARLIN? This family of fish has 10 different species, all of whom can easily kill you in a fair fight!  While these are deep sea fish, they prefer the upper more shallow waters where feeding is easier.  They use their “swords” when swimming through dense schools of fish.  They slash from side […]

WHAT IS A MAHI MAHI? Also known as the dolphinfish or dorado, the name mahi mahi comes from the Polynesian language and means “strong strong.”  This warm water fish doesn’t look anything like its namesake the dolphin.  But they both make high-pitched underwater noises to communicate.  And both creatures enjoy swimming ahead of ships traveling […]