Fish of the Year a rare treat
The Flemish Centre for Agriculture and Fisheries’ (VLAM) Fish of the Year for 2012 is the tub gurnard, known in Dutch as the rode poon.
The selection of a fish of the year is a campaign aimed at highlighting one of the many species of fish available to customers in Flanders. The gurnard is relatively little-known here, with only 300 tonnes landed every year at Flemish fishing ports, and most of that as a by-product of boats out to catch something else. Only about 2% of families report having eaten it.
The fish is described as having firm flesh with a deep flavour, suitable for frying, baking, stewing, poaching and even barbecue. The season lasts from October to April, with the peak in the first three months of the year, after the shoals pass through the English Channel from the Atlantic to the North Sea.
VLAM is organising a competition to find the most original recipe using gurnard. Leaflets with recipe ideas will be available at fish sellers and supermarkets.
