Photo source: Nederlands Visbureau

At Phans, we strive for a world without waste. It’s a vision we want to share and reflect in everything we create. Our fish sauce carries a rich history and story, but there is more behind our choice of specific fish — perhaps a bigger story and impact than most people realize. Today, we take a closer look at a new Phans product and explain why we choose to work with plaice discards.

Bycatch vs. discards: what's the difference?

In the fishing industry, the term bycatch is often used. These are fish that end up in the nets while fishermen are targeting a different species. In principle, all bycatch is perfectly suitable for consumption, but due to low demand and limited awareness, much of it remains underused. As you may know, we make fish sauce from pouting and have added Schar Reserve 2023 to our range of bycatch-based sauces.

Today, however, we’re focusing on another category, one that often goes unnoticed: discards.

Discards are fish that fishermen are not allowed to land for the regular consumer market, for example because they are too small or fall outside quota regulations. For many years, the only option was to throw these fish back into the sea, where their chances of survival are low. A missed opportunity, as the quality of these fish is often excellent.

Sustainability and Phans

We do not see discards as waste, but as a valuable part of the catch that deserves a purpose.

• No waste: instead of being left unused, we give these plaice a second life.

• Respect for the catch: everything that comes from the sea deserves to be treated with respect. By processing discards into fish sauce, we honor the fisherman's entire catch.

• Circular: we turn a logistical 'problem' into a circular solution.

A great opportunity

A few times a year, we get the opportunity to work with these specific batches of plaice. In our barrels, the fish undergoes a transformation. Through a long fermentation process with salt, the proteins break down, resulting in a complex, umami-rich sauce: our 18-month aged plaice fish sauce.

Plaice gives our sauce a bold character and body. It’s an umami powerhouse, yet more refined than traditional anchovy-based sauces. The result may surprise you: a pure, truly Dutch product that adds depth to dishes, with a story to match.

Next time you use fish sauce, take a moment to think about everything behind it.