Sushi Guide
Albacore Tuna, U.S. pole and troll caught Bin'naga maguro
Albacore tuna are a migratory, schooling fish with a high reproductive rate. Although the status of the population is uncertain, scientists recommend that fishing efforts remain stable or be reduced to maintain long-term abundance. Agencies that manage albacore fisheries have capped fishing efforts. Pole and troll fishing for albacore cause no habitat damage and result in a relatively small amount of bycatch.
Learn MoreArgentine Squid Ika
Argentine Squid constitute much of the U.S. imported squid supply. They reproduce and die quickly, often within one year, a lifecycle that potentially buffers them from heavy fishing pressure. Changes in environmental conditions influence their population sizes from year-to-year. South American and Asian distant-water jigging vessels dominate the fishery, which mainly occurs off the coasts of Argentina and the Falkland Islands and in international waters. Little is known about bycatch in Argentine Squid fisheries, except that it includes small numbers of other squid species and finfish.
Learn MoreAtlantic Mackerel Saba
Atlantic Mackerel are fast swimmers found throughout the Atlantic Ocean that mature within 3 years. In U.S. waters, Atlantic Mackerel have rebounded from being overfished in the 1970s and are at a high level of abundance. Europeans target separate populations of Atlantic Mackerel, and both fisheries primarily use mid-water trawls, but also bottom trawls. Bycatch of marine mammals continues to be a problem in this otherwise healthy fishery.
Learn MoreAtlantic Surf Clam Hokkigai
The Atlantic Surf Clam fishery in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) is managed through an individual transferrable quota (ITQ) system. This management system has demonstrated success by preventing overfishing and promoting high abundance. However, despite being a long-lived (~40 year maximum age) and early maturing (~2 years old) species, biomass estimates have continually dropped since 1997. The Surf Clam fishery is a very ‘clean’ fishery with limited bycatch and having virtually no impact on protected species. However, the hydraulic clam dredge used to catch Surf Clams causes moderate to significant damage to sandy bottom habitat. Fisheries in New York and New Jersey state waters are managed and assessed by state authorities.
Learn MoreBay Scallop (farmed) Hotate
Since native U.S. Bay Scallops suffer from depletion, most Bay Scallops come from coastal aquaculture farms in China. There, growers reportedly produce all their scallops via suspension culture, with relatively low impact to the environment. Be aware that some Calico Scallops may be labeled as Bay Scallops (Calicos are severely depleted and taken with habitat-damaging dredges).
Learn MoreCapelin Masago
Capelin have a circumpolar distribution in the Arctic and represent one of the largest fisheries in the world. They grow fast, reproduce in 3-4 years and then die. Most Capelin is caught in Iceland and Canada using purse seines, which cause little habitat damage and produce limited bycatch. Capelin are an important source of food for many seabirds, marine mammals and commercially important fish species.
Learn MoreGeoduck Clam Mirugai
Geoducks are large clams that can live for over 100 years, and generally reach sexually maturity in less than 10 years. Due to good management, Geoduck Clams are relatively abundant along the Pacific coast of the U.S. and Canada. They are caught using directed water jets called 'stingers' that loosen the substrate around each clam, allowing it to be removed by hand. This fishing method has little environmental impact and results in low bycatch.
Learn MoreGreen Sea Urchin (British Columbia) Uni
Green Sea Urchins are reasonably abundant along the coasts of northeast Canada. Sea Urchins are prolific breeders and can live over 20 years. They are hand-caught by divers so bycatch is minimal with no damage to the habitat. Sea Urchins graze Kelp and are eaten by many animals like Sea Otters, and therefore are an important link in the marine ecosystem.
Learn MoreMarket Squid Ika
Market Squid are short-lived and can withstand intensive fishing pressure at their spawning grounds off the California coast. But they are vulnerable to large-scale changes in the environment driven by El Nino Southern Oscillation events. Robust estimates of Market Squid abundance elude fisheries biologists and managers, which makes management of the population difficult at best.
Learn MoreNorthern Shrimp (Eastern Canada) Amaebi
This species is distributed along the northern coastlines of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, including the North and Bering Seas and the Sea of Okhotsk. The Canadian fishery uses trawl nets to catch Northern Shrimp over muddy bottoms, and mandatory use of bycatch reduction devices (called Nordmore grates) has greatly reduced bycatch of depleted groundfish. The fishery is also managed under an individual quota system, which has ended the dangerous incentive to fish competitively for shrimp.
Learn MoreRed Sea Urchin (British Columbia) Uni
Red Sea Urchins are moderately abundant along the coasts of northeast Canada. Sea Urchins are prolific breeders and can live over 20 years. They are hand-caught by divers so bycatch is minimal with no damage to the habitat. Sea Urchins graze Kelp and are eaten by many animals like Sea Otters, and therefore are an important link in the marine ecosystem.
Learn MoreSalmon, Alaska Sake, Ikura
Salmon caught from Alaska consists of five species: Pink, Sockeye, Chum, Coho and Chinook (King) Salmon. Abundance of salmon, particularly Pink and Sockeye, is high in Alaska due to good management and healthy habitat. The majority of salmon is caught with purse seines, followed by gillnets and troll gear. These fishing methods cause little habitat damage and result in moderate levels of bycatch, typically other fish.
Learn MoreSardines Iwashi
Sardines are abundant in most temperate waters throughout the Pacific and Indian Oceans. They grow rapidly and are important food for many fish, seabirds and marine mammals. Sardines are caught using purse seines, which cause minimal habitat damage and result in little bycatch.
Learn MoreSkipjack Tuna, pole and line caught Katsuo
Skipjack Tuna represent about half of the global tuna catch and are commonly sold as 'canned light' or 'chunk light'. They can spawn millions of eggs each year, grow fast, and have a high rate of population increase. Although management measures are generally weak, Skipjack Tuna are common in the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans. There is little bycatch associated with pole and line caught Skipjack Tuna, making it a better alternative to purse seine caught tuna.
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Spanish Mackerel Sawara
Spanish Mackerel inhabit coastal waters along the Eastern seaboard of the U.S. and have recovered from years of overfishing to high abundance today. They are important to recreational as well as commercial fishers. The surface gears fishers use to catch Spanish Mackerel have little bycatch and no adverse effects on habitat.
Learn MoreStriped Bass Suzuki
Striped bass populations reached severe lows in the 1980s, but strong management has helped them rebound. Striped bass fisheries utilize a range of gears, many of which have minimal impacts on habitat such as hook and line gear and midwater gillnets. There is work underway to assess bycatch.
Learn MoreWalleye Pollock Surimi/Kanikama
Pollock, which live on both sides of the North Pacific, are quick to mature, which potentially enables them to withstand high fishing pressure. Pollock support the world's largest whitefish fishery, which supplies surimi (minced fish) for imitation crabmeat, roe, and fillets to markets in the U.S., Europe, and Japan. Managers closely monitor the large-scale Pollock fishery, which uses mid-water trawls and has low bycatch. Possible impacts on declining Steller Sea Lions, which prey on Pollock, continue to concern managers and environmental groups.
Learn MoreYellowfin Tuna, pole- and troll-caught Maguro
Yellowfin Tuna grow rapidly and have shorter lifespans than other tunas, qualities which potentially enable them to withstand high fishing pressure. They are found throughout the world's tropical and sub-tropical oceans. Fishery managers consider populations of Yellowfin Tuna to be at healthy levels of abundance, but they are depleted compared with historic levels. Generally captured by purse-seine fisheries for the canned tuna market, Yellowfin Tuna are also captured in pole and troll fisheries, which produce little to no bycatch and are a model for selective fisheries.
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Albacore Tuna, pole- and troll-caught, imported Bin'naga maguro
Albacore Tuna are highly fecund predators found throughout the world's temperate and tropical seas. Highly exploited in the North Atlantic, Albacore Tuna populations are at a medium to high level of abundance in other regions. Bycatch in these fisheries is low and does not include endangered species, like longline fisheries.
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Bigeye Tuna, pole- and troll-caught Maguro
Highly prized by the Japanese sashimi market, Bigeye Tuna are widely distributed in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans and mature at a moderate rate. Except for the Eastern Pacific population, managers consider Bigeye Tuna to be at medium to high levels of abundance , but there are signs that populations are declining. Longline and purse-seine gears account for the majority of Bigeye Tuna landings and have high bycatch of non-targeted species, including sea turtles, seabirds, and marine mammals. Pole-and-line and troll-caught Bigeye Tuna is the best alternative, as these gear types do not have high levels of bycatch.
Learn MoreCero Mackerel Saba
Cero Mackerel inhabit coastal waters from New England to Brazil, however they are primarily associated with reefs off South Florida and throughout the Caribbean. A small directed commercial fishery for Cero Mackerel exists in U.S. waters, but most Cero Mackerel in the U.S. market are caught incidentally in other fisheries. Little is known about the status of Cero Mackerel in U.S. waters or in the Caribbean, where catches are high.
Learn MoreDungeness Crab Kani
Dungeness Crabs dwell in shallow coastal waters from Alaska to Mexico and are named after the Dungeness Spit along the south shore of the Straits of Juan de Fuca. Abundance fluctuates greatly due to environmental factors and consequently populations are difficult to assess. Dungeness Crabs have some reproductive strategies that help populations withstand fishing pressure. Males will mate with numerous females, and large females can carry over two million eggs. To help protect Dungeness Crabs, state and tribal managers prohibit catches of females and require that fishers only catch males that are large enough to have mated at least twice. Most crabs are caught in low-bycatch traps, called pots.
Learn MoreHybrid Striped Bass (farmed) Suzuki
Hybrid striped bass are a cross between striped bass and white bass. The predominant farming methods for this species are inland ponds and tanks, which lead to less water pollution and disease than other aquaculture methods for finfish (e.g. netpens).
Learn MoreKing Crabs, U.S. Kani
King Crab fisheries in the U.S. are strongly managed and their offshore, deep-sea habitat remains healthy. These spider-like crustaceans molt, aggregate to mate, and brood their eggs for about a year, all traits that make them vulnerable to fishing. Their abundance naturally expands and contracts, but good management keeps these populations fairly healthy.
Learn MoreLongfin Squid Ika
Overfished in the late 1990s, Longfin Squid are now abundant in U.S. Atlantic waters thanks to their fast growth and short lifespan which enable them to withstand moderate fishing pressure. Historically, the domestic fishery for Longfin Squid was small, but the exclusion of foreign squid boats from U.S. waters and increases in international demand for squid have fostered an expansion in the U.S. fishery. Longfin Squid are now well-managed, but bycatch of marine mammals continues to marr the fishery.
Learn MorePacific Halibut Hirame
Related to flounders, Pacific Halibut are far larger. Although they grow slowly and can live over 50 years, Pacific Halibut remain abundant due to responsible management, where annual catches and bycatch are strictly capped. Fishers own shares of the total annual catch, eliminating the dangerous incentive to fish competitively. Seabird bycatch, especially of North Pacific albatross species, is a concern in the Alaska demersal longline halibut fishery.
Learn MoreRed Sea Urchin (California) Uni
Red Sea Urchins in California are overfished and generally uncommon in rocky habitats. They are hand-caught by divers so bycatch is minimal with no damage to the habitat. Sea Urchins graze Kelp and are eaten by many animals like Sea Otters, and therefore are an important link in the marine ecosystem.
Learn MoreShrimp (farmed, U.S.) Ebi
Farmed shrimp require high amounts of fishmeal and fish oil in their food compared to other farmed fish and shellfish. To reduce pollution when shrimp water is discharged, it is usually treated. Imported farmed shrimp come from areas with weaker environmental protections, and practices commonly damage ecosystems. U.S. farm-raised shrimp are a better alternative to imported farm-raised shrimp and to trawl-caught shrimp.
Learn MoreSkipjack Tuna, purse seine caught Katsuo
Skipjack Tuna represent about half of the global tuna catch and are commonly sold as “canned light” or “chunk light”, with most caught using purse seines. Skipjack Tuna can spawn millions of eggs each year, grow fast, and have a high rate of population increase. Although management measures are generally weak, Skipjack Tuna are common in the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans. Bycatch from purse seines is moderate but can include other tunas, dolphins, sharks and sea turtles, thus pole and line caught Skipjack Tuna is a better alternative.
Learn MoreStone Crabs Kani
Popular in the Southeast U.S. and supplied predominantly by the Florida West coast crab fishery, fishers use relatively low-bycatch traps to catch Stone Crabs. These crabs benefit from naturally high fertility, which helps provide resilience to fishing pressure. Fishers for Stone Crabs have been advocates for strong management; they urged regulators to adopt a program to reduce the number of traps allowed in the fishery.
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Monkfish Anko, Ankimo
Monkfish grow slowly but mature quickly and are typically found in dense aggregations on mud and sand bottoms along the Atlantic coast of the U.S and Canada. They were traditionally caught as bycatch and discarded until the 1980s when market demand first grew in Asia and Europe, and later in North America. Monkfish were considered “overfished” for many years but through good management their abundance is now at moderate levels. Many fisheries in New England and the Mid-Atlantic catch Monkfish, but the majority are caught in gillnet and bottom-trawl fisheries. Bottom trawling can damage the seafloor.
Learn MoreNew Zealand Tai Snapper Tai
Tai Snapper are found in subtropical regions of the western Pacific Ocean including New Zealand, Australia, China and Japan. In New Zealand, Tai Snapper are a commercially important fishery. Due to prudent fisheries management, most Tai Snapper populations are stable or recovering from their previously overfished status. Juvenile Tai Snapper inhabit muddy estuaries, while adults mostly inhabit rocky reefs, but are also found in mud and seagrass habitats. Most Tai Snapper are caught using longlines, which can result in the incidental catch of seabirds.
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Pacific Bluefin Tuna, purse seine caught Kuro maguro
Pacific Bluefin Tunas are prized on the sashimi market and are mainly fished by Japanese vessels. Pacific Bluefin Tuna are typically found in the Western Pacific around Japan, in the central North Pacific and in the Eastern Pacific off Baja California. They migrate across the Pacific Ocean, from their spawning grounds in the western Pacific to the eastern Pacific. Purse seining is one of three fishing methods commonly used to catch Pacific Bluefin Tuna and generally results in low bycatch and habitat damage. Pacific Bluefin Tuna are at low levels of abundance.
Learn MorePacific Bluefin Tuna, troll caught Kuro maguro
Pacific Bluefin Tunas are commonly caught by troll fishing, which has very low levels of bycatch and causes no habitat damage. They are typically found in the North Pacific, and can travel huge distances from their spawning grounds in the western Pacific to the eastern Pacific. Pacific Bluefin Tuna are fished for by many countries including Japan, USA and Mexico, and they are prized on the sashimi market. Due to high demand and market value, fishing pressure is too high and Pacific Bluefin Tuna are uncommon.
Learn MoreSalmon, California, Oregon, and Washington Sake, Ikura
Management of U.S. West Coast (California to Washington) salmon is comprehensive and catches are monitored to protect weak populations, but overall population abundance remains well below historical levels. Habitat degradation from dams, logging, and development pose serious problems for most salmon on the West Coast. There is concern over the possible adverse effects of salmon hatchery programs on wild salmon. Five salmon species are found on the U.S. west coast: Chinook (King), Coho (Silver), Sockeye (Red), Chum (Dog) and Pink (Humpback).
Learn MoreSea Scallop Hotate
Wild Sea Scallops were once overfished but have since recovered. With fishing pressure still high, recent management measures are controversial. Bottom dredges and trawls used to catch Sea Scallops inadvertently damage habitat, and there is unintended catch of endangered sea turtles and Atlantic Cod, Monkfish, flounders, and skates.
Learn MoreYellowfin Tuna, longline-caught Maguro
Yellowfin Tuna grow rapidly and have shorter lifespans than many other tunas, qualities that potentially enable them to withstand high fishing pressure. They are found throughout the world's tropical and sub-tropical oceans. Fishery managers consider populations of Yellowfin Tuna to be at healthy levels of abundance, but they are depleted compared with historic levels. Generally captured by purse-seine vessels for the canned tuna market, Yellowfin Tuna are also captured by longline vessels, which supply fresh Yellowfin Tuna, or Ahi, to seafood markets. Longline gear catches large numbers of unwanted animals, including marlins, sharks, sea turtles, and marine mammals.
Learn MoreYellowtail, U.S. Farmed Hamachi
U.S. Yellowtail is farmed in net cages. Pollution concerns are generally low because cages are situated in areas of deeper water and strong currents, promoting the dispersal of waste. U.S. farmed Yellowtail are fed a diet containing moderate levels of fish meal and oil.
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Albacore Tuna, longline-caught Bin'naga maguro
Albacore Tuna are highly fecund predators found throughout the world's temperate and tropical seas. Highly exploited in the North Atlantic, Albacore Tuna populations are at a medium to high level of abundance in other regions. The majority of the global Albacore Tuna supply is caught by longlines, which incidentally kill high numbers of seabirds, sea turtles, sharks, and other fish. Instead of longline caught Albacore Tuna, try US pole and troll caught Albacore or Wahoo.
Learn MoreAmerican Eel Unagi
American Eels may not reproduce until they are 20 years old, making them inherently vulnerable to fishing pressure. True abundance is unknown, but catches have decreased greatly over the last few decades. Using eel pots in coastal waters and nets in rivers, American eels are caught before they can reproduce, which further decreases their abundance. Although management plans are in place, there is inadequate scientific monitoring of populations. Instead of American Eel, try Spanish Mackerel or American Lobster.
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Atlantic Flounders and Soles Hirame
Long-term overfishing and high bycatch plague Atlantic groundfish fisheries. Naturally vulnerable to fishing pressure, most Atlantic flounders and soles remain depleted. Strong management measures have helped Summer Flounder (fluke) rebound. Pacific Halibut and Sablefish have a similar taste and texture.
Learn MoreBigeye Tuna, longline-caught Maguro
Highly prized by the Japanese sashimi market, Bigeye Tuna are widely distributed in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans and mature at a moderate rate. Except for the Eastern Pacific population, managers consider Bigeye Tuna to be at medium to high levels of abundance , but there are signs that populations are declining. Longline gears account for the majority of Bigeye Tuna landings, and purse-seine vessels catch high numbers of juveniles. Both of these gear types have high bycatch of non-targeted species, including sea turtles, seabirds, and marine mammals. Pole-and-line and troll-caught Bigeye Tuna is the best alternative. Wahoo has also a similar taste.
Learn MoreOctopus Tako
Although Octopus are wide-ranging and have short lifespans, some populations are declining due to heavy fishing pressure. Most Octopus are caught using bottom trawls, causing habitat damage and bycatch of unwanted wildlife. Management and monitoring of Octopus fisheries are weak in many countries. Instead of Octopus, try Argentine or Long-fin Squid.
Learn MorePacific Bluefin Tuna, longline caught Kuro maguro
Pacific Bluefin Tunas are found in the Western Pacific around Japan, in the central North Pacific and in the Eastern Pacific off Baja California. They can swim vast distances, from their spawning grounds in the western Pacific to the eastern Pacific. Japan is the major fishing country for Pacific Bluefin Tuna where they are prized on the sashimi market. Their abundance is very low. Longlines are commonly used to catch Pacific Bluefin Tuna and while they cause little habitat damage they do catch a variety of bycatch species such as sea turtles, sharks and other fish.
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Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Kuro maguro/Hon maguro
Atlantic Bluefin Tuna is the largest tuna species and one of the largest fish in our oceans, growing to 700 kg and over 4 m in length. At least three populations exist in the Atlantic (western and eastern) and Mediterranean Sea and after decades of exploitation all populations are considered overfished. The overall abundance of Atlantic Bluefin tuna is at a critical level and effective management and conservation goals are needed to protect the remaining fish. Fishers use surface gears, typically rod and reel, longlines and purse-seines to target this highly valuable species. Little is known about bycatch associated with directed Atlantic Bluefin Tuna purse-seine fisheries, but tuna longline fisheries catch high numbers of finfish, sea turtles, and seabirds. Instead of Atlantic Bluefin Tuna, try pole and troll caught Yellowfin Tuna
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Atlantic Halibut Hirame
Atlantic Halibut were once very common along the northeast U.S. and Canadian coastlines, but its abundance has crashed due to centuries of overfishing. Since the 1960's, abundance has been extremely low and it is feared that Atlantic Halibut may become extinct in the wild. It is a long-lived species that matures slowly, further hampering recovery. Most Atlantic Halibut sold in the U.S are caught in Canadian waters using bottom longlines. Instead of Atlantic Halibut, try Pacific Halibut.
Learn MoreAtlantic Salmon, farmed Sake, Ikura
There are high environmental costs in farming Atlantic Salmon such as water pollution, disease, and high wild fish content in feed. All Atlantic Salmon sold in the U.S. is farmed; of which 90% is imported from Canada and Chile. Farming Atlantic Salmon typically occurs at high stocking densities in sheltered coastal net pens. Antibiotics and vaccines are commonly used to treat infected farmed Atlantic Salmon. Global regulations are highly variable and in some cases non-existent. Instead of farmed Salmon, try wild-caught Salmon from Alaska
Learn MoreFreshwater Eel, farmed Unagi
Most Freshwater Eel is farmed in net pens and ponds where waste is not treated before it's discharged, causing serious environmental pollution. Freshwater Eels can also escape from net pens, transferring diseases to wild populations. Freshwater Eels are highly carnivorous and require a high protein diet, consisting mostly of fish meal and oil. Because of their complex life history, farming is dependent on wild-caught juvenile or glass Eels, causing wild populations to decline. Instead of Freshwater Eel, try Spanish Mackerel or American Lobster.
Learn MoreShrimp (farmed, imported) Ebi
The production of imported farm-raised shrimp - supplied almost entirely by developing nations in tropical regions - destroys critical managrove and coastal habitat and introduces chemical and biological wastes into sensitive environments. Raised at high stocking densities, farm-raised shrimp frequently suffer from disease and are given large quantities of antibiotics and chemicals. Shrimp feed contains high amounts of fish meal and farmers frequently collect larval and juvenile shrimp from the wild. Instead of imported, farmed Shrimp, try US farmed Shrimp or Northern or Pink Shrimp.
Learn MoreShrimp (wild-caught, imported) Ebi
Bottom trawls used to catch most imported shrimp damage benthic habitat and result in large amounts of bycatch, including commercially important fish species and endangered sea turtles. Tropical shrimp trawl fisheries lack adequate management and enforcement. Essentially annual crops, imported shrimp species are short-lived and highly fecund, although information on their abundance is lacking. Instead of imported, wild-caught Shrimp, try US farmed Shrimp or Northern or Pink Shrimp.
Learn MoreSnappers Tai
Snappers, of which there are many species throughout the world, grow slowly and have long lifespans, making them vulnerable to overfishing. Much remains unknown about the impacts of fisheries on snapper populations because management and monitoring is poor to nonexistent. Nonetheless, clear signs indicate that many snapper species are declining. Instead of Snappers, try US farmed Barramundi.
Learn MoreYellowtail, Japanese farmed Hamachi
Japanese amberjack, also known as yellowtail, is one of the most economically important marine species farmed in Japan. Its high quality meat is sold as sashimi in Japan and around the world. Japanese amberjack farming can cause substantial water quality impacts in areas of intensive farming. The fish is farmed in net cages with little or no treatment of effluent, which has been linked to localized pollution and damaging red tide episodes. Farmers also feed raw fish to large individuals, increasing waste accumulation and further degrading water quality. The biggest concern in farming practices is the dependence on wild juveniles called mojako to stock farms. The abundance of mojako has fluctuated in recent years, threatening the longterm viability of Japanese amberjack farming and the wild population it depends on. However, research is underway to improve the quality of feed, raise the fish in a less polluting system, and improve the success of hatchery-raised fish, which may improve the environmental effects in the coming decades. Instead of Japanese farmed Yellowtail, try US farmed Yellowtail.
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