Seriola Rivoliana, also known as the Almaco Jack or Pez Fuerte, is a species of fish found throughout the warm waters of the Pacific Ocean. Our Baja Kampachi are grown from the eggs of less than 100 local wild-caught fish in the crystal clear tropical waters of La Paz, Baja California. We never use antibiotics or terrestrial proteins.
Sustainably farmed.
With a clean and balanced flavor, Baja Kanpachi is often enjoyed raw in crudo & sashimi preparations but due to the rich fat content it is incredibly versatile and nearly impossible to over cook!
Celebrated at farm-to-table concepts by some of the most renown Chefs in the world, Omega Blue Baja Kanpachi has a reputation as the cleanest fish in the Pacific, the best tasting Jack in the family and a favorite dish for grilling, searing, poaching, smoking, curing and raw presentations.
Baja Kanpachi™ is also healthy for what it doesn’t contain. Our farm site inside the Sea of Cortez was selected for is pristine environment, away from industrial pollutants and sheltered from the Pacific Gyre’s plastic currents. Furthermore a controlled diet of high quality MSC certified fishmeal ensures no detectable levels of accumulated toxins such as Plastics, PCBs or mercury in our fish. We do not use GMO brood fish, growth hormones or preventative antibiotics in the production of Baja Kanpachi™.
Omega Azul’s initial focus is on the sustainable production and distribution of Seriola Rivoliana marketed as “Baja Kanpachi” to address a growing demand for sushi grade marine protein without compromising the health of the planet, our fish or consumers.
Seriola rivoliana is native to the region its raised in, there is no threat of interbreeding or out-competing wild fish (should there ever be any escapes). Our Broodstock are locally sourced, wild genetic strains of Seriola rivoliana which we believe this to be the safest method of genetic sourcing when it comes to aquaculture.
A primary concern for marine aquaculture operations is the potential impact to the local benthic (ocean floor) environment. Thus great care is taken to ensure we minimize our footprint – this includes regular monitoring and sampling of the benthic environment. The farm has two deep-water ocean concessions which allows for cage rotation and a regular fallowing program which meet and exceed government regulations for benthic impact. Having worked with local council, government, key stakeholders and experts to develop Best Practice Guidelines for Almacojack farming in the Sea of Cortez, these standards are monitored regularly to ensure the operation continues meet and exceed guidelines.
“We view sustainability through three primary lenses: Environmental, Economical, and Social. Each of these aspects are critical and one cannot exist without the other two – they are all intricately connected.”
The Company’s fish farming activities meet all required government regulations and world’s best practice standards, which have elevated Baja Kanpachi to a premium producer of international repute. The use of premium feeds, minimal stocking densities and site fallowing practices help deliver a sustainable supply of top quality fish.
Closed-Lifecycle Baja Kanpachi farming in the Sea of Cortez is one of the most sustainable ways of producing animal protein.
The feed our Baja Kanpachi consume during the 1.5 years they grow them from egg, is cornerstone of their unique health benefits (and the single most expensive aspect of the farming process!). Our fish eat a dry pellet feed made at EWOS from algae and fish meal produced from the tailings at a Marine Stewardship Certified sardine canary. EWOS feed is made under the stringent controls of several international standards, including: Best Aquaculture Practices (B.A.P.); Food Safety Management System HACCP (ISO22000:2005); Environmental Management System (ISO14001:2004). The heads, tails and carcasses not used in the process of canning third-party audited, sustainably sourced sardine loins, are ground up with alges to produce a 100% marine protein that does not put direct pressure on the wild-stock populations of bait fish.
Reducing the marine dependence, using more fish trimmings, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions; Baja Kanpachi feed is produced by responsibly selecting raw materials from certified sustainable sources as well as formulating and producing nutritionally balanced feeds that enhance efficient use of fish meal and fish oil. An ancillary benefit, the feed is nearly mercury-free (0.004 ppm). This is because heavy metals accumulate in the loins of sardines. By mitigating the concentration of heavy metals and sheltering the fish from exposure to environmental pollutants, we also know what our fish are NOT eating.
High quality feeds from responsible providers assure that the FIFO (Fish in Fish Out) ratio is in balance with availability and care for the environment.
The feed contains ingredients based on the nutritional requirements at every life stage of the Kanpachi. The main change in formulation through the life of Baja Kanpachi is the ratio of oil to protein. As a Kanpachi grow they requires less protein and more oil. Their diet contains no antibiotics or hormones, low exposure to mercury sources and a continuous cold chain to produce the best omega 3’s the ocean has to offer.
Seriola rivoliana is a fast-growing and feed-efficient species, with the average Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) being about 1.4 : 1.0 (Grubman J.S., 2014). What does this mean?
This means a 1.0kg yield of fish for every 1.4kg of feed used.
The farming process can produce 1.087 kilogram of Baja Kanpachi for every kilogram of marine protein used. In the wild it takes about 5kg of marine protein to produce 1kg of almacojack.
Compared to other livestock:
Chicken – 1.9 : 1.0
Pork – 2.9 : 1.0
Beef – 6.8 : 1.0
Our fish are fed the highest quality feed – using premium fishmeal sourced from sustainable fisheries with no antibiotics, hormones, or steroids added. We take great pride in offering this prime quality seafood to a health and environmentally conscious consumer market – we hope you’ll take pride in it too!
Baja Kanpachi is a fish that likes to move around – the open-ocean grow out site ensures they has the space to do their thing and as a result, we have happier, healthier, and tastier fish.
Having a low stocking density benefits the local environment, the health of the fish and their growth potential.
Low stocking densities reduce deposition of waste into benthic environment. The lower rate of waste production allows more time for dispersal by current, preserving benthos. For large fish, like Baja Kanpachi, sufficient space for exercise is required in order to build firm muscles. Furthermore if the stocking density exceeds the carrying capacity of the system, the full growth potential of the fish will not be realized. In other words, an optimum density also benefits economic production. *(Nakada, 2002)
As Almacojack are native to the Sea of Cortez, locally referred to as “Pez Furete”, there was zero concern about the introduction of a new species into wild populations. Nevertheless, we’ve implemented escape prevention programs based on an ongoing supervision of our state of the art grow-out cage materials and installations.
Baja Kanpachi are not genetically modified fish. The Baja Kanpachi hatchery has a traditional, classic selective breeding program where the wild-caught “Pez Fuerte” broodstock (breeding fish) with the best traits (size, color, oil content) are chosen for reproduction. Many distinct Kanpachi families are maintained, and there are currently thousands of records for individual fish stretching back to the first generation.
Keep it natural. Baja Kanpachi is 100% non-GMO and native to the waters in which its raised – meaning no surprises for you, or the environment. We believe this to be the safest method of genetic sourcing when it comes to aquaculture.
Prior to dispatch, every lot is individually numbered with Country of Origin, and Harvest Date label attached to each box of fish to allow for authenticity of origin and full traceability for customers. The fish go from the water, into totes, onto refrigerated trucks and direct to our restaurant customers. Direct from the farm to restaurant distribution with consistent, year round availability. Currently 4 days per week we delivery whole fresh fish. No middlemen, no reseller markup. Our refrigerated van is on the road every morning before the sunrise to ensure prompt delivery to our restaurant clients throughout Southern California.
