© Pine Island Redfish
Red drum, commonly known as redfish, has long been a staple cuisine in the Southern US, and gained national recognition in the 1980s when Chef Paul Prudhomme and other culinary pioneers helped popularise blackened redfish. However, soaring demand led to severe overharvesting, pushing wild populations to the brink of collapse. In response, the federal government imposed a ban on commercial redfish fishing in 2007, restricting the species to sport fishing only.
Now, following its first successful harvest, Pine Island Redfish is making its farm-raised redfish available at select Publix Super Markets in the Sarasota area, as well as at several restaurants across the state. With the introduction of its product, the Florida-based company aims to provide seafood lovers with high-quality, locally sourced redfish without impacting wild populations. Pine Island’s commitment to sustainability extends beyond its fish farming practices. Its regenerative RAS technology repurposes fish waste nutrients to support the growth of mangroves and salt-tolerant plants such as sea purslane and barilla. This year’s harvest has already contributed to the cultivation of over 5,000 mangroves, which are being deployed for coastal restoration projects along Florida’s Gulf Coast.
"Pine Island Redfish is bringing this highly prized fish back to the menu with RAS production and no compromise of our wild stock. We can offer year-round, consistent quality redfish. We are proudly the only ‘Fresh from Florida’ source, and we are grateful to be supported by Florida Division of Aquaculture in bringing this native fish home," said Megan Sorby, co-founder and CEO of Pine Island Redfish.
"It is pretty special to bring our redfish to market knowing that for consumers, it is a seafood they can truly feel great about. It strengthened and nourished the future of our coastal ecosystems before making its way to market," She concluded.
