I received a lovely new mug as a Christmas gift.
On this mug, a beautiful bright orange fish is expertly painted.
This fish is the Gurnard.
I have never caught a Gurnard, but I would like to pretend I have and tell you about them anyway.
The gurnard is a type of bottom-dwelling fish found primarily in the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea, averaging in length about 20- 50cm.
Known for its distinctive appearance, it has large, wing-like pectoral fins that resemble "hands," which it uses to "walk" along the seafloor in search of food.
They are also musical, able to create sound with muscles that are beaten against their gas bladder (‘gornard’ means ‘grunter’ or to ‘grunt’ in French).
Recent studies found these grunts are used for communication and not just as a defence mechanism or during mating season.
Like I said, they are bottom feeders, consuming crustaceans, small fish, and invertebrates, but they won't turn their nose up at a dead fish on the seabed.
Gurnards are sometimes caught for commercial fishing and are valued for their firm, white flesh.
For the dinner plate, I read their popularity took off in the late 2000s.
Particularly after some big chefs started raving about the Gurnard. e.g UK sales sales rose by 1000% between 2007 and 2008.
It shows the how consumerism can change with any sort of endorsement.
I wonder if there have been any examples of this phenomenon being used for advocating sustainable selections of fish.
I am aware of the Good Fish Guide but I’m not familiar with roles celebrity chefs have played to be honest.
Peace and love to the Gurnard.
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