Flake (fish)
Encyclopedia
Flake is a term used in Australia
to indicate the flesh of any of several species
of small shark
, particularly Gummy shark
. The term probably arose in the late 1920s when the large-scale commercial shark fishery off the coast of Victoria was established. Until that time, shark was generally an incidental catch rather than a targeted species.
Flake rapidly became popular. It has a mild flavour, a soft texture that nevertheless remains well-defined after cooking, and a clean white appearance. These qualities, combined with the ready supply and a low price, saw flake become by far the most common type of fish to be served in Australian fish and chip shops. Flake remains popular, but it is no longer especially cheap.
Although the primary shark species sold as flake is the gummy shark, there are several others, as listed below.
During the late 1960s it became apparent that larger individuals of several shark species were contaminated with high levels of heavy metals
, particularly mercury
, and a public outcry eventually led to a ban on the sale of large school sharks in 1972, which remained in effect until 1985.
In Britain
, nursehound
is often sold as flake.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
to indicate the flesh of any of several species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
of small shark
Shark
Sharks are a type of fish with a full cartilaginous skeleton and a highly streamlined body. The earliest known sharks date from more than 420 million years ago....
, particularly Gummy shark
Gummy shark
The gummy shark, Mustelus antarcticus, is a shark in the family Triakidae. It is a slender grey shark with white spots along the body and flat plate-like teeth for crushing its prey. It has a maximum length of between 157 cm and 175 cm . It feeds on crustaceans, marine worms, small fish...
. The term probably arose in the late 1920s when the large-scale commercial shark fishery off the coast of Victoria was established. Until that time, shark was generally an incidental catch rather than a targeted species.
Flake rapidly became popular. It has a mild flavour, a soft texture that nevertheless remains well-defined after cooking, and a clean white appearance. These qualities, combined with the ready supply and a low price, saw flake become by far the most common type of fish to be served in Australian fish and chip shops. Flake remains popular, but it is no longer especially cheap.
Although the primary shark species sold as flake is the gummy shark, there are several others, as listed below.
- Gummy sharkGummy sharkThe gummy shark, Mustelus antarcticus, is a shark in the family Triakidae. It is a slender grey shark with white spots along the body and flat plate-like teeth for crushing its prey. It has a maximum length of between 157 cm and 175 cm . It feeds on crustaceans, marine worms, small fish...
, Mustelus antarcticus - School sharkSchool sharkThe school shark, tope shark, soupfin shark or snapper shark, Galeorhinus galeus, is a hound shark of the family Triakidae, the only member of the genus Galeorhinus, found worldwide in subtropical seas at depths of up to...
, Galeorhinus galeus - Elephant fish, Callorhinchus milii
- Whiskery sharkWhiskery sharkThe whiskery shark is a species of houndshark, family Triakidae, and the only member of its genus. This common shark inhabits the Australian continental shelf from Western Australia to the Bass Strait, to a depth of . It is demersal in habits and prefers rocky and vegetated habitats...
, Furgaleus macki - Saw shark (any of several Pristiophorus species)
- Various dog sharks (Family Squalidae)
- WobbegongWobbegongWobbegong is the common name given to the 12 species of carpet sharks in the family Orectolobidae. They are found in shallow temperate and tropical waters of the western Pacific Ocean and eastern Indian Ocean, chiefly around Australia and Indonesia, although one species occurs as far north as Japan...
During the late 1960s it became apparent that larger individuals of several shark species were contaminated with high levels of heavy metals
Heavy metals
A heavy metal is a member of a loosely-defined subset of elements that exhibit metallic properties. It mainly includes the transition metals, some metalloids, lanthanides, and actinides. Many different definitions have been proposed—some based on density, some on atomic number or atomic weight,...
, particularly mercury
Mercury (element)
Mercury is a chemical element with the symbol Hg and atomic number 80. It is also known as quicksilver or hydrargyrum...
, and a public outcry eventually led to a ban on the sale of large school sharks in 1972, which remained in effect until 1985.
In Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, nursehound
Nursehound
The nursehound , also known as the large-spotted dogfish, greater spotted dogfish, or bull huss, is a species of catshark, family Scyliorhinidae, found in the northeastern Atlantic Ocean. It is generally found amongst rocks or algae at a depth of...
is often sold as flake.