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Ciguatera?

Author: Chris AK (---.gci.net)
Date: 09-29-08 17:43

I have been reading that you take a gamble eating some kinds of reef fish because you can become infected with Ciguatera. While it is not deadly it is supposed to make you throw up and what not... I read that it is best to ask the locals about it, So what fish can you eat that are caught off the shore?

Someone told me to fish for "yellowtail Jacks" or "snapper"...
Also where is a good place to fish?, I know that Rosario and flemenco are off limits, but is there any where else? Someone said "Melones?" but I cant find it on anymap

Also, are lobster not affected by this? Where is a good place to go for Lobster? Someone else said that out in the reef off of dakity was a good place to go?

Any help would be appreciated.....

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Re: Ciguatera?

Author: Doug (---.dsl.stlsmo.swbell.net)
Date: 09-29-08 18:25

The off-limits areas are the boundaries of the F&W preserve. Nautical charts showing them are all over Culebra - I have a t-shirt with them on it.

With the coral bleaching problems of the last decade, fish numbers are in decline, so instead of fishing I typically purchase cobia, a delicious fish. I don't know how available they will be, since the mareculture business that produced them was closing down and moving, last I heard.

Also, if you flyfish, there is world-class bonefishing done on Culebra.

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Re: Ciguatera?

Author: Debbie (---.sip.asm.bellsouth.net)
Date: 09-29-08 18:55

See wikipedia entry:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ciguatera

"barracudas, moray eels, parrotfishes, groupers, triggerfishes and amberjacks, are most likely to cause ciguatera poisoning." Of these, barracudas, eels and parrotfish are not commonly eaten by North Americans. Groupers are rare to altogether disappeared in Culebra's waters, and triggerfishes are right behind them. That leaves amberjacks, which are a little more common. Yellowtail snappers are also more common. To be completely responsible while eating seafood on Culebra, go for the aquaculture, locally raised cobia. You might also try imported Maine lobster from El Eden, as they are abundant this year.

Please consider consulting the Seafood Watch guide prior to consuming any seafood. Thanks for allowing me the soapbox.

http://www.mbayaq.org/cr/cr_seafoodwatch/content/media/MBA_SeafoodWatch_NationalGuide.pdf

Happy Diving!
Debbie

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Re: Ciguatera?

Author: Jeannie G3 (---.aep.bellsouth.net)
Date: 09-29-08 20:28

Hola! We consume as much seafood as possible when visiting the island. it is the greatest. We usually go right to the source, friends who are fishermen or their friends who have brought in the catch of the day. There's nothing like eating what has been caught that morning, unless you catch it yourself. You can basically eat anything, crabs, oysters, lobsters, fish and not get sick. My Mom usually goes with us to make our purchases and she is really picky (she has lived most of her life near the fishing community in Cabo Rojo, so she knows her seafood). We have never gotten sick, no indigestion, food poisoning, never ciguatera. You need to know if the seafood from the restaurant is fresh, just ask the locals if they know if the food is good. If the restaurant has many patrons, the seafood should be fresh, no time for that fish to hang around the fridge very long. If you go where the fishermen dock, Associacion de Pescadores Culebra...............742-0144, buy what was caught that day: no fish smell, clear eyes, no oversize fish. My Mom's advice is that fish that are too big most likely will have ciguatera. Nice fish are red snapper: chillo, grouper: mero, mahi mahi :dorado, shark : tiburon. Also try conch: carrucho and octopus: pulpo.
Great info Debbie! Happy travels! J

supergarcia3

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Re: Ciguatera?

Author: Arroz (---.direcpc.com)
Date: 09-29-08 20:47

It looks like we are caught betwixt and between. The top choices on the list are all farmed fish yet we are also told that farming fish is an environmentally bad practice. We are also told that farmed fish are filled up with antibiotics to keep them healthy! Just when I thought it was safe to eat fish again - oh well, back to good old safe steak tartare.

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Re: Ciguatera?

Author: Debbie (---.sip.asm.bellsouth.net)
Date: 09-29-08 21:42

Food - such a dilemma. . .

It depends, in my opinion, on how it was farmed. Offshore farming, like that conducted in Culebra (not sure if they are still raising Cobia there or not - I hear differing news and do not know first-hand) seems to be done in an environmentally friendly manner and without the use of hormones.

http://www.snapperfarm.com/2006/aboutculebrancobia.htm

On-shore (or close to shore) farm operations, from what I've read, do pollute the environment. I have no knowledge of whether fish farms dope up their product with antibiotics as the US allows with other animals raised for consumption.

I don't eat much fish because I don't much care for it, but in any event, as with all food I eat, I am careful about where it comes from.

I should also say - to echo Jeannie's post - if you eat what you catch, or you know it is local, it is much better than just ordering off a menu in the Caribbean and assuming that it is local. Always ask!

P.S. to Jeannie - I am working on a trip report for our recent trip around the island, and Cabo Rojo was absolutely, hands-down, my favorite stop. How you can stand to live here, I will never understand. . . LOL!

Happy Diving!
Debbie

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Re: Ciguatera?

Author: Debbie (---.sip.asm.bellsouth.net)
Date: 09-29-08 22:10

and Abe, the info I posted was related only to sustainable practices, i.e., what to eat in accordance with sustainability - not necessarily whether farmed or fresh is better health-wise.

Happy Diving!
Debbie

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Re: Ciguatera?

Author: Michael (---.netvisao.pt)
Date: 09-30-08 10:30

Ciguatera has nothing to do whether the fish is 'old' or not. Size does matter, though ;)
Barracuda, shunned by North Americans, when eaten small and still swimming in schools are one of the most delicious. I believe they even have a separate name than the adults.
Now if you can get a real charcoal grill and a Portuguese to grill them for you ...
I have lived of the fish I caught in Culebra for months on end and never had anything. Friends of mine had some bad cases of ciguatera, being 'out' for weeks and not being able to eat fish for years. I never ate really big fish. Then again, who really knows?

Enjoy Culebra!

Michael

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Re: Ciguatera?

Author: Jeannie G3 (---.asm.bellsouth.net)
Date: 09-30-08 11:58

Hola! I love Cabo Rojo with all my heart and at least I can calm my home sickness writing about the things I love about PR and my home town and sending people down there to enjoy it all. My Mami is a native of Cabo Rojo and they grew up exchanging what they grew on their farm for fresh seafood from the local fishermen. They ate lobster, fish eggs (we call it caviar, LOL!!!), octopus, all types of crustaceans and fish. When I lived there, she wanted us to enjoy the same delicacies and learn how to get the best and most fresh. She also taught us how to stay away from some things and places that can make you sick. Stay away from big fish, talk to the locals and especially the local fishermen. Forget about the language barrier, I'm sure they are more than willing to share their knowledge and advice. If it smells fishy, stay away. Stick with the kinds of fish I mentioned: mero ( grouper), chillo ( snapper), dorado (mahi mahi), in a size that doesn't seem too dinosaur big. Happy travels! J

supergarcia3

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