Jews Say No to Jew Fish
Source: The News-Press Miami | May 26, 2001
‘Jewfish’ out, ‘Goliath’ is in
Group puts new tag on giant grouper in name of correctness
By KEVIN LOLLAR, klollar@news-press.com
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Some people might not think it’s kosher, but the committee that names fish in the Americas changed the common name of Florida’s largest grouper species.
From now on, the Committee of Names of Fishes of the American Fisheries Society wants people to call jewfish ‘goliath grouper.’
Chutzpah or ethnic sensitivity?
“This was not a quick or easy decision,” committee Chairman Joseph Nelson said from his home in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. “For several decades, this committee has been petitioned by people who felt the name was offensive to Jews. But our overriding principle has always been one of stability of names, and we’ve resisted, politely saying, No.”
“But we recently had a strong, strong petition stating that this name to some Jews was deeply offensive. One of our principles in the naming of fish is the name should not be offensive, so we discussed it a long time and felt, OK, if name is offensive to a group, it’s OK to change it.”
Nobody knows for sure where the jewfish got its name, Nelson said, although a number of theories exist.
One is that when people started eating the big grouper, they realized the flesh was very clean, like kosher food.
According to another, more offensive, theory: In the 1800s, jewfish were considered trash fish and were the last fish sold at a fish market; often they started getting a little ripe, and some people declared they were only fit for Jews.
Changing the jewfish’s name is only the second time the committee has changed a name to keep from offending an ethnic group.
In the late 1990s, the squawfish of the American Northwest became the pikeminnow.
“I want to stress that we?ve only had two fish with offensive names,” Nelson said. “People think we’re going to start changing all kinds of names, like Spanish mackerel. But that’s ridiculous. This is not a domino effect.”
For Rabbi Bruce Diamond of Temple Beth-El, the name change is a cockamamie idea.
“Jewfish is out?” Diamond said. “I tell you: In the universe of things that need to change, the name of a big grouper is low on the list. I appreciate their political correctness, but people should think about getting migrant laborers a few more pennies for their tomatoes, do something good for the world. And you got that from the rabbi’s mouth.”
For Capt. Gordy French of Sea Lion Charters out of Naples, the change really means nothing.
“It doesn’t matter to me if they change the name or not,” he said.
“I have three groups of Jewish guys who fish with me, and when they’re on the boat, to be politically correct, I’ll call jewfish “giant groupers.” If they’re changing the name, I’ll call them ‘goliath grouper,’ too.”
