Since I love eating fish, the many posts on this forum (search this forum for "Fish poisoning" and "Ciguatera") and warnings from other sources, have enticed me to do some added research regarding this issue.
Now, this is not meant to be culinary, medical or legal advise! I do not guarantee below findings. Test at you own risk!
I have spoken to older Dominicans (why older Dominicans, you may ask... because they have survived long enough to know! ) about the issue and drafted a list of consensus information, in other words what most seem to agree on or repeat:
Basics:
List of fish that are said to be safe all year long:
I am trying to put together a data base with pictures and names of fish found in the Dominican market... if you have any pictures of Dominican fish with the matching name which would help ID species or any other relevant input to this subject, you are outmost welcome to e-mail them to me.
I would also welcome some more comments as to how to treat the effects of ciguatera poisoning.
Thanks! ... J-D.
Now, this is not meant to be culinary, medical or legal advise! I do not guarantee below findings. Test at you own risk!
I have spoken to older Dominicans (why older Dominicans, you may ask... because they have survived long enough to know! ) about the issue and drafted a list of consensus information, in other words what most seem to agree on or repeat:
Basics:
- Ciguatera is a poisoning the fish may carry over to humans if eaten. The fish does not seem to suffer from the poisoning and does not seem any different than one(s) that do(es) not carry the poisoning.
- Not all fish species will likely carry ciguatera poisoning. It would seem that some species will seek deeper waters as temperatures raise. So there would be fish species that won't or can't do that and thus do not eat from plankton which may cause some to carry ciguatera.
- Many seem to believe that a tongue test can reveal the presence of the toxin (licking the cleaned and fresh fish). If the toxin would be present some describe the sensation of a short numbness... some have compared it to testing cocaine. Many also indicate that flies won't dwell on fish carrying the toxin (maybe for the same effect some may feel doing the tongue (licking) test(?). In other words, if flies gather on most fish except one (assuming they are all equally fresh) the one without the flies may carry the toxin.
- Chillo,
- Colorado,
- Carite,
- Bonito,
- Mero Pluma.
List of fish that are said to be safe all year long:
- Capitan,
- Dorado,
- Lisa DE AGUA DULCE,
- Bonito DE AGUA DULCE,
- Tilapia DE AGUA DULCE,
- Mero blanco,
- Mero dorado.
- Cotorra, aka. Lora, aka, Loro.
I am trying to put together a data base with pictures and names of fish found in the Dominican market... if you have any pictures of Dominican fish with the matching name which would help ID species or any other relevant input to this subject, you are outmost welcome to e-mail them to me.
I would also welcome some more comments as to how to treat the effects of ciguatera poisoning.
Thanks! ... J-D.