Brunswick Sardines: A Fishy Mystery

Brunswick Sardines are wild-caught North Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus), a small saltwater fish that travels in huge schools. They are sourced from the icy-cold waters of the North Atlantic, including the Canadian, Polish and Swedish coasts. The seasonal fishing period for these sardines is between June and October each year.

Brunswick Sardines are available in a variety of flavours and can be purchased in most major grocery stores in Canada, as well as internationally.

Brunswick Sardines are sourced from the North Atlantic

Brunswick Foods focuses on providing quality wild-caught sardines, never farmed. The company prioritises sustainability and ensures its suppliers actively support global policies and management initiatives that maintain the long-term sustainability of supply. Their fish are sourced from strictly managed fisheries, with seasonal fishing taking place between June and October each year.

The two primary methods of harvesting Brunswick sardines are purse seine and weir fishing. Purse seine fishing involves locating schools of herring and encircling them with a large net that has floats on top and weights and rings at the bottom. A smaller boat then pulls one end of the net around the school and reconnects it to the main fishing vessel. The cable at the bottom of the net is slowly pulled tight, containing the school of fish. The fish are then pumped onboard the vessel and placed in refrigerated seawater for transport to the processing facility.

Weir fishing, adapted from the Native American Indians in the 16th century, involves using stationary poles and netting placed near the shore in tidal areas. This method directs schools of herring into confined areas, acting as a trap. Once the fish are confined, fishing vessels equipped with seine nets encircle and bring the fish to the surface. A vacuum is then used to transfer the fish to a carrier vessel, where they are stored in refrigerated seawater for transport.

Brunswick Sardines are a healthy and delicious source of protein, packed with Omega-3, calcium, and other essential nutrients. The company's commitment to quality and sustainability ensures consumers can enjoy tasty and nutritious seafood while supporting environmentally conscious practices.

They are rich in vitamins and minerals

Brunswick Sardines are small saltwater fish in the herring family, sourced from the icy-cold waters of the North Atlantic, including Canada, the Polish coast of the Baltic Sea, and the Swedish coast. They are cooked and canned in a special way, and are available in a range of flavours.

Brunswick Sardines are packed with vitamins and minerals, making them a nutritional powerhouse. They are an excellent source of:

• Omega-3 Essential Fatty Acids: These fatty acids are necessary for maintaining overall health and have been linked to a reduced risk of major diseases.
• Calcium: Sardines provide the body with this vital mineral, which is required for muscle contraction, blood clotting, nerve function, and maintaining healthy bones and teeth. They are an especially good source of calcium for people who are lactose intolerant.
• Iron: The iron in Brunswick Sardines helps build red blood cells, improves concentration, may prevent anaemia, and lowers the risk of colds and infections.
• Potassium: Potassium helps the body maintain a normal water balance, regulate neuromuscular activity, and promotes cellular growth.
• Vitamin B-12: Vitamin B-12 is needed for the proper functioning of the nervous system and the gastrointestinal tract, as well as for building red blood cells.
• Riboflavin: This nutrient is essential for growth and plays a key role in protein, carbohydrate, and fat metabolism.
• Vitamin D: Vitamin D is crucial for normal growth and development, and it helps form and maintain healthy bones and teeth. It also enhances the absorption of calcium and phosphorous.
• Protein: Sardines are a good source of protein, which helps build and repair body tissues and antibodies.

With their high content of essential vitamins and minerals, Brunswick Sardines are a healthy and delicious choice for anyone looking to boost their nutrient intake.

They are packed in several different oils

Brunswick Sardines are packed in several different oils, including olive oil, soybean oil, and spring water. The olive oil variety is marketed as a premium, high-quality product, with the sardines described as being wild-caught and preserved in olive oil. The soybean oil option includes hot peppers, which give the sardines a slightly acidic taste. The spring water option contains no salt and is targeted towards pet owners who want to provide their pets with a good source of protein.

The olive oil variety is also available in a boneless option, which is described as being convenient, easy to eat straight from the can or perfect for recipes. This option is also marketed as being a healthy snack, with the product being high in protein and vitamin D, as well as being trans-fat-free.

They are available in various flavours

Brunswick Sardines are sourced from the icy-cold waters of the North Atlantic, specifically the Canadian, Polish and Swedish coasts. They are wild-caught, never farmed, and are available in a variety of flavours.

The sardines are described as a "superfood of the sea", packed with Omega-3, protein, calcium, iron, potassium, vitamin B12, riboflavin and vitamin D. They are also a source of Omega-3 Fatty Acids.

The Brunswick brand offers a range of classic and contemporary flavours to suit all tastes. One of their products is the Sardine Fillets Seafood Snacks - Kippered. These are boneless sardine fillets with a lighter smoke flavour, a traditional favourite. The ingredients include sardine fillets, water, salt, natural smoke flavouring and sodium phosphate.

Another flavour is the Fire and Spice Sardines, which capture the warmth and flavour of the Caribbean. This recipe includes sardines in tomato sauce, dry beans, water or coconut milk, onion, bacon or salt pork, green pepper, garlic, chicken stock, oregano, parsley flakes, allspice, cayenne pepper, black pepper and rice.

Brunswick also offers a recipe for Rocket Pesto with Sardines on Toast, which serves 5 and takes 18 minutes in total to prepare and cook.

They are caught using purse seine and weir fishing

Brunswick sardines are caught using two primary methods: purse seine fishing and weir fishing. Purse seining involves locating schools of herring and encircling them with a large net that has floats on the top and weights and rings on the bottom. A smaller boat takes one end of the net and pulls it around the school of fish, reconnecting the net to the main fishing vessel. The net is then pursed closed at the bottom, preventing the fish from escaping by swimming downward, and the fish are harvested by hauling the net aboard or bringing it alongside the vessel.

Purse seine nets can reach more than 6,500 ft (2,000 m) in length and 650 ft (200 m) in depth, and are used in the open ocean to target dense schools of single-species pelagic (midwater) fish. This method is generally considered efficient, as it has no contact with the seabed and can have low levels of bycatch (accidental catch of unwanted species). However, it is also non-selective, capturing everything within the net, including protected species such as sea turtles and marine mammals.

Weir fishing, on the other hand, is a passive fishing method adapted from Native American Indians in the 16th century. It involves placing sets of stationary poles and netting near the shore in tidal areas to direct schools of herring, which follow the flow of water, into confined areas that act as traps. Once the fish are confined within the shallow waters of the weir, fishing vessels equipped with seine nets encircle and bring them to the surface. A vacuum is then used to transfer the fish from the weir onto a carrier vessel.

Weirs are obstructions placed in tidal waters or across a river to direct, trap, or channel fish. They have been used by many societies around the world and can be constructed from wood, stones, or other materials. In medieval Europe, for example, large fishing weir structures were built from wood posts and wattle fences, forming V-shaped traps that could be up to 60 m (200 ft) long. Weir fishing is still used today by Natives in Nova Scotia to retain shad during their seasonal runs up certain rivers.

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