BLOGANUARY 2025 DAY 22
I was catching up with BBC’s Winterwatch this morning, and there was a feature about someone sea-kayaking off the Devon coast. He would paddle out for miles, and end up having enviable encounters with whales, dolphins, porpoises, sunfish, basking sharks and – Atlantic bluefin tuna. I think these huge huuuuuge fish are probably one of my favourite marine species, possibly even above cetaceans. Reaching up to 8′ in length, and swimming at 35mph, they hunt fish all across the ocean. I had no idea they were off our shores here on the south coast, and not that I ever head out to sea, or even visit the beach, I was fascinated to see the footage of these powerful fish pursuing their prey.
I remember seeing tuna in a conical tank at Nausicaá in Boulogne years and years ago, and deciding there and then that I would never eat tuna again. I had honestly thought that they were tiny, about the size of a, erm, can of tuna – yes really – and felt awful that these magnificent creatures were so ubiquitous as a sandwich filling of all things.
That was the start of my not-eating-fish journey, and one I have adhered to for the last 2 decades. I have a cat and a dog, so can’t claim that fish is never purchased by me, but much as I love the flavour and texture of fish, I can’t bring myself to eat it – my theory being that it belongs in the sea and there are plenty of other creatures that will eat the fish if I don’t, and their need is far greater than mine. And don’t get me started on the destruction of trawling, ghost nets, pollution…sigh.
Anyway, here is an Atlantic bluefin tuna in gouache in my Venezia sketchbook:
