Sablefish-Black Cod

Black Cod (Sablefish) Flavor Profile

Black Cod Flavor Scale

Flavor
Oil
Texture

Fresh Black Cod (Sablefish) is a richly flavored fish with a high oil content and satiny texture. They are highly valued for their buttery texture and are frequently sold to Japan before the US market.

Due to its high fat content Sablefish has a velvety texture (hence the name “Butterfish” is a common market name) with a mild but distinctive flavor profile. The flesh is white with large, delicate flakes.

Typical Cooking Methods

Image from Wikipidia-click for licensing

Description (Anoplopoma fimbria)

Sablefish are a groundfish with dark gray or black skin on their upper body and lighter gray on the belly. They average about 8-10 Lbs but can be up to 40 Lbs. Although they are sometimes called Black Cod, they are not a member of the Cod species. Sablefish are a long-lived species which can reach a maximum age of up to 94 years.

Alternate Names

Butterfish, Black Cod, Blackcod, Coalfish, Alaska Cod, Skilfish, Sable, Gindara (sushi)

Fresh Black Cod (Sablefish) Availability

Fresh seafood availability chart: green areas show peak availability, light green show limited availability, gray indicates not available fresh. Frozen available all year long.

Black Cod Butchering Yield Percentage and Recovery

Range & Habitat

AquaMaps Data sources: GBIF

Sablefish are found from southern California to the Bering Sea in the Eastern Pacific, and from Kamchatka, Russia to southern Japan in the Western Pacific. It dwells in muddy areas of the ocean floor at depths of 1000-9000 feet deep.

Typical Wholesale Products

H&G, Fillets, Steaks

Sablefish Sustainability Info

Name	Alternate Names	Catch Method	Catch Region	Seafood Watch	Ocean Wise	Sea Choice	Mercury Concerns
Sablefish	Black Cod, Butterfish, Gindara	Wild, pots, bottom longline	Canadian Pacific, Alaska				moderate
Sablefish	Black Cod, Butterfish, Gindara	Wild, bottom trawl, bottom longline	Washington, Oregon, California				moderate
Disclaimer: The sustainability info above is accurate to the best of our knowledge. However, each program randomly updates their information without our knowledge. We therefore recommend that you verify the current accuracy of this information.
= Best Choice/Recommended = Good Alternative = Avoid/Not Recommended							Updated July 2013

Black cod from WA, OR, and CA are rated Good Alternative either due to bottom trawling which hurts the habitat, or by catch from their bottom long-lines.

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