Supporting Harvesters
Our story
In 2022, the nonprofit Eat on the Wild Side recognized a problem—and an opportunity. Sablefish is one of the Pacific Northwest’s most remarkable wild seafood resources: abundant, responsibly managed, deeply nutritious, and prized by chefs for its rich flavor and versatility. Yet for many American consumers, it was virtually unknown. That disconnect mattered. Here was a domestically harvested seafood with a compelling story, but U.S. consumers had little familiarity with it.
Eat on the Wild Side believed that could change. If people understood where their seafood comes from, how it is harvested, and why those choices matter, they could make better decisions for themselves, for fishing communities, and for the ocean—without giving up the quality, flavor, and enjoyment that make seafood worth choosing in the first place.
With support from a Saltonstall-Kennedy grant, Eat on the Wild Side launched NW Sablefish in 2023 with a simple but ambitious goal: bring the story of this extraordinary fish to life.We introduce consumers to the fishermen who harvest it, the science and management behind the fishery, and the chefs who know how to make it shine. Through engaging stories, recipes, chef partnerships, and public outreach, we showcase sablefish not simply as a sustainable seafood choice, but as an exceptional one. By connecting fishermen, chefs, restaurants, and consumers, NW Sablefish is building a stronger market for wild, domestic seafood—and helping more people discover one of the Northwest's best-kept culinary secrets.
Because sustainability shouldn't mean choosing less.
It should mean choosing better.
Our Mission
Our mission is to put sablefish at the center of the conversation about exceptional, sustainably harvested American seafood. We connect consumers, chefs, and communities with information about the fishermen who harvest it and the science-based fisheries management that makes it possible — working to build demand, support fishing families, and inspire more people to choose this incredible domestic seafood.
Our Values
Cuisine
Celebrate and promote NW Sablefish as a refined delicacy that is versatile and flavorful. Sablefish harvested in the North Pacific is the gold standard when it comes to taste and we aspire to help consumers feel confident in their preparation of sablefish.
Sustainability
Inform the public on the sustainable management of the wild NW Sablefish fishery. Committed to resource conservation, we inform consumers about the responsible management and MSC certification of the fishery. Highlighting the selective harvesting method known as “fixed-gear operations,” we commend the harvesters who have focused on resource conservation since the fishery’s early beginnings.
Health
Educate consumers on the health benefits of wild Northwest sablefish.At the heart of our vision is a dedication to consumer health and well-being. We are eager to educate the public on the exceptional nutritional benefits of wild Northwest sablefish, including its high levels of Omega-3 fatty acids and high-quality protein.
Community
Foster connections between harvesters, chefs, and consumers to promote wild Northwest sablefish as a delicious, sustainable, and nutritious seafood choice for restaurant and home cooks alike. We believe in the power of community to drive positive change, and we work to develop and support these relationships through dialogue and transparency.