D
no fish
T
Tgf
Guest
No, this is not true. What people are referring to are that in certain places, at certain times, a few species of reef fish are likely to be carriers of ciguatoxins which cause ciguatera poisoning. This can cause numbness, reversal of sensations, vomiting, and in the most extreme cases coma and death with the paralysis of the nervous system. There are frequently outbreaks of this among certain reefs in the Lesser Antilles and happens sporadically throughout the Caribbean and tropical Southern Atlantic regions. This is particularly true of reef predators such as barracuda and to a lesser extent grouper. The problem is that fish can be excellent eating one day and the following week they can be dangerous. Eating fish in April or May has nothing to do with it specifically, but ciguatera poisoning is more common during the hotter months since the microorganisms that produce this poison grow faster in the hotter months on the corals. I worked with fishermen in the DR and ate fish all year round and never became sick with ciguatera poisoning. I have become ill from poorly stored fish (not well refrigerated) after eating in a few restaurants in the past. It is interesting to note that the fisherman kill and dispose of all barracuda caught on the north coast around Puerto Plata to Punta Rucia, but in Samana I ate excellent barracuda in coconut milk.
If you want to play it safe eat only eat pelagic fish (migratory ocean fish) such as tuna, mackeral, dolphin (Mahi Mahi), wahoo, etc. It is also generally safe to eat lobster, langostinos, shrimp, conch, and squid. Ask around while down there and if people say the seafood at a certain restaurant is good and fresh, I suggest that would be the place to eat. Have a great trip.
If you want to play it safe eat only eat pelagic fish (migratory ocean fish) such as tuna, mackeral, dolphin (Mahi Mahi), wahoo, etc. It is also generally safe to eat lobster, langostinos, shrimp, conch, and squid. Ask around while down there and if people say the seafood at a certain restaurant is good and fresh, I suggest that would be the place to eat. Have a great trip.
H
Henry
Guest
To your first question - in April you may not eat the bonito (Auxis thazard), any other fish is good!(No restrictions in May!)
Remember please, that lobsters are banned due reproduction till end of July!
Enjoy your meal!
Henry
Remember please, that lobsters are banned due reproduction till end of July!
Enjoy your meal!
Henry
T
Tgf
Guest
Re: no fish (henry)
Henry,
I understand your statement on lobsters (the ban is in effect for Dominican lobsters) but imported lobsters are allowed in and are being served in many of the finer restaurants during this period.
I am curious why the bonito is not edible in April? And where is this in effect? Is it a local or regional belief or is it a new government law to avoid overfishing of this resource? When I worked with local fishermen on the north coast (1988-1990) these fish called either bonito or frigate mackeral in English (Auxis thazard thazard) were mainly available only in January and February in large numbers. It was considered a tasty and solid food fish with fair wholesale market value. See attached url. I look forward to your response.
Henry,
I understand your statement on lobsters (the ban is in effect for Dominican lobsters) but imported lobsters are allowed in and are being served in many of the finer restaurants during this period.
I am curious why the bonito is not edible in April? And where is this in effect? Is it a local or regional belief or is it a new government law to avoid overfishing of this resource? When I worked with local fishermen on the north coast (1988-1990) these fish called either bonito or frigate mackeral in English (Auxis thazard thazard) were mainly available only in January and February in large numbers. It was considered a tasty and solid food fish with fair wholesale market value. See attached url. I look forward to your response.
H
Henry
Guest
to tgf
Of course, any imported lobster or whatsoever can be consumed legally, I always refer to local catch (who sees the difference anyway???)!
The Bonito is on a offical list of beeing "poisonous" during the month of April, while it can be consumed freely on any other month of the year! Whether this occurs due natural changes of the fish and it's habits I cannot say just it is on the list of the harmful periods of fishes!
When you catch Bonito in January / February you are well of from April!
Henry
Of course, any imported lobster or whatsoever can be consumed legally, I always refer to local catch (who sees the difference anyway???)!
The Bonito is on a offical list of beeing "poisonous" during the month of April, while it can be consumed freely on any other month of the year! Whether this occurs due natural changes of the fish and it's habits I cannot say just it is on the list of the harmful periods of fishes!
When you catch Bonito in January / February you are well of from April!
Henry
T
Tom
Guest
Re: to tgf
Who sees the difference? If you can't tell the difference in one of those overgrown crayfish they call Lobsters in the Caribbean and a good Maine Lobster, you should be eating snails
Who sees the difference? If you can't tell the difference in one of those overgrown crayfish they call Lobsters in the Caribbean and a good Maine Lobster, you should be eating snails
D
Dave S.
Guest
to tom re: to tgf...."those overgrown crayfish"...
.....from the carib and other warm waters result in approx. 90% of all "lobster" consumed in the world. The Maine/ New Hampshire/ Mass. lobsters (the real deal) are somewhat of a "pimple" on the menu list..........
Best, Dave
.....from the carib and other warm waters result in approx. 90% of all "lobster" consumed in the world. The Maine/ New Hampshire/ Mass. lobsters (the real deal) are somewhat of a "pimple" on the menu list..........
Best, Dave
T
Tom
Guest
Your figures?
Maybe that is why they are the most sought after and prized? Anyone prefer a "spiny" lobster to Maine lobster?
Out of curiosity, where do you get your figures, I really think they are a bit inaccurate.
Tom
Maybe that is why they are the most sought after and prized? Anyone prefer a "spiny" lobster to Maine lobster?
Out of curiosity, where do you get your figures, I really think they are a bit inaccurate.
Tom
D
Dave S.
Guest
Re: Your figures?
The #'s came to me by a gentleman by the name of George Morgan who supplies the "Red Lobster" chain of restaurants in the U.S. with lobster....majority for U.S. coming out of Hawaii and Honduras/Nicaragua area where he has huge operations in all 3 areas. Maybe he meant just the U.S....however, I believe the "spiny" is the "lobster" indigenous to the mideast as well.
Anyway....who cares...just give me some butter and garlic and "pass the tail"....
Best, dave
The #'s came to me by a gentleman by the name of George Morgan who supplies the "Red Lobster" chain of restaurants in the U.S. with lobster....majority for U.S. coming out of Hawaii and Honduras/Nicaragua area where he has huge operations in all 3 areas. Maybe he meant just the U.S....however, I believe the "spiny" is the "lobster" indigenous to the mideast as well.
Anyway....who cares...just give me some butter and garlic and "pass the tail"....
Best, dave
R
Ronald Heyne
Guest
Re: to tgf
Come on, Tom,
"those overgrown crayfish they call Lobsters in the Caribbean"
You should know that we are talking about two different species and the way you say it is like you blame the people in the Caribbean for mixing up this. I would say this are the Americans who don?t speak spanish and don?t know the different words.
What you get in the DR is called "langosta" in spanish (Languste in english and german). What you have in Maine (Lobster) is called "bogavante" in spanish (Hummer in german). Dominicans don?t know "bogavante" because there is none.
You know the difference: Lobster has shears, langoste not.
And: there are langostas and langostinos in the DR. A friend assured me that langostinos are not just small (young) langostas but a different species, which will not grow any larger.
Bye
Ronald
Come on, Tom,
"those overgrown crayfish they call Lobsters in the Caribbean"
You should know that we are talking about two different species and the way you say it is like you blame the people in the Caribbean for mixing up this. I would say this are the Americans who don?t speak spanish and don?t know the different words.
What you get in the DR is called "langosta" in spanish (Languste in english and german). What you have in Maine (Lobster) is called "bogavante" in spanish (Hummer in german). Dominicans don?t know "bogavante" because there is none.
You know the difference: Lobster has shears, langoste not.
And: there are langostas and langostinos in the DR. A friend assured me that langostinos are not just small (young) langostas but a different species, which will not grow any larger.
Bye
Ronald
T
Tom
Guest
Re: to tgf
It was said and indicated that it was in jest. there are dozens of varities, but fall into two types : The "Maine"/European Lobstah, and the warm water crawdad
Tom
It was said and indicated that it was in jest. there are dozens of varities, but fall into two types : The "Maine"/European Lobstah, and the warm water crawdad
Tom
T
Tgf
Guest
Re: to tgf
Well, I go away from this board for an evening and I find out this thread has started a "lobster war." I few comments. I was asking henry about the bonito because I thought it was a cultural response to the likelihood that during this time of year the species is more likely to carry ciguatera poison in its system. This is kind of like the fact that in the USA you don't eat oysters during months without a "R" such as May, June, July and August - hot months when red tide can affect the shellfish and kill the person who eats them. Same idea with bonito I guess.
As for the lobster wars. I like spiny tail lobster and look forward to catching them when I go diving in the Caribbean. I love North Atlantic lobster and look forward to the times when they go for under $6.50 (US) a pound. Did you know that during the 19th century in Boston they were considered trash food and servants stipulated that they could not be served lobster more than twice a week. Langostinos I believe are also called prawns in other parts of the world such as Australia. When they say "throw another shrimp on the barbie," they are talking about langostinos.
Well, I go away from this board for an evening and I find out this thread has started a "lobster war." I few comments. I was asking henry about the bonito because I thought it was a cultural response to the likelihood that during this time of year the species is more likely to carry ciguatera poison in its system. This is kind of like the fact that in the USA you don't eat oysters during months without a "R" such as May, June, July and August - hot months when red tide can affect the shellfish and kill the person who eats them. Same idea with bonito I guess.
As for the lobster wars. I like spiny tail lobster and look forward to catching them when I go diving in the Caribbean. I love North Atlantic lobster and look forward to the times when they go for under $6.50 (US) a pound. Did you know that during the 19th century in Boston they were considered trash food and servants stipulated that they could not be served lobster more than twice a week. Langostinos I believe are also called prawns in other parts of the world such as Australia. When they say "throw another shrimp on the barbie," they are talking about langostinos.
S
Sean
Guest
Re: Your figures?
I guess we're getting far afield here, but the Maine-type lobsters that companies like Red Lobster and other restaurants get from other parts of the world (Australia is another) are grown on farms, not found in the wild.
I guess we're getting far afield here, but the Maine-type lobsters that companies like Red Lobster and other restaurants get from other parts of the world (Australia is another) are grown on farms, not found in the wild.
T
Tom
Guest
No Red Lobsters in Maine
It's funny when you talk of Lobster, Maine Lobster and Red Lobster in the same post. Red Lobster has opened and closed 4 times in Maine, seems they just can't compete
Tom
It's funny when you talk of Lobster, Maine Lobster and Red Lobster in the same post. Red Lobster has opened and closed 4 times in Maine, seems they just can't compete
Tom
F
fisherman
Guest
Re: to tgf
you are absolutly right ronald.. langosta and bogavante are different..and in D.R they don't know it because they don't have bogavante..
you are absolutly right ronald.. langosta and bogavante are different..and in D.R they don't know it because they don't have bogavante..