Eating Lionfish is not recommended

~ Study shows toxins found in local Lionfish ~

PHILIPSBURG--The Nature Foundation is recommending that the invasive lionfish not be eaten. The foundation said Monday that a recently concluded study of flesh samples of larger lionfish caught in St. Maarten waters showed levels of the poisonous ciguatoxin that causes ciguatera (or fish) poisoning.

The findings have torpedoed the foundation's plans for promoting the commercial exploitation of lionfish.

Ciguatera poisoning is caused by naturally occurring toxins, called ciguatoxins, that are produced by microscopic plants ? gambierdiscus toxicus ? that live on seaweed and other surfaces within coral reef communities. When fish eat seaweed or algae they consume the organisms and the ciguatoxins build up in the fish's flesh.

The toxin is stored in the fish's body and not excreted, so it builds up as it goes up the food chain. The bigger fish eat the little fish and the toxin is passed on until it is consumed by humans. Predators at the top of the food chain, like barracuda and lionfish, can end up with large amounts of the toxin in their flesh.

No test can be done to determine if the fish is poisoned and cooking and preparation have no affect on the toxin. The toxin is unrelated to the venom found in the spines of the lionfish.

"This is very bad news for us, as we were planning on promoting lionfish as an edible, commercially viable fish, which we hoped would help in reducing its numbers along the reefs. However, before we started telling the community that the fish is edible we wanted to be absolutely sure that there were no health care threats associated with eating the fish.

"With our partners in the USVI and in the French islands we tested several samples of lionfish meat and have found that unfortunately an uncomfortably high percentage showed the presence of ciguatoxin in the meat. Therefore we do not recommend that lionfish be eaten.

"This is the same toxin which is present in the flesh of barracudas, large jacks and large snapper, which are traditionally also not eaten if caught in our waters."

The foundation said various countries and territories in the Caribbean had been promoting lionfish as edible, but these areas usually did not have a high level of ciguatoxin in their larger reef fish.

It noted that the Northeastern Caribbean from Guadeloupe to the Virgin Islands, including St. Maarten, has a higher level of ciguatoxin than most other areas in the Caribbean.

"So to be absolutely safe rather than sorry, we unfortunately cannot recommend the eating of lionfish as a method for controlling them," said Nature Foundation Manager Tadzio Bervoets.

Fish poisoning causes nausea or vomiting, diarrhoea, electric-shock-like or painful sensations, reversal of hot and cold sensations, intense itching or tingling fingers and toes, slowed heart rate and a drop in blood pressure, weakness or fatigue, muscle or joint pain, depression, and headaches.

There is no effective treatment or antidote for ciguatera or fish poisoning and the mainstay of treatment is supportive care.

The lionfish is an invasive species that was introduced into the Caribbean through the aquarium trade. Lionfish are a threat to local fisheries because they have the potential to destroy local fishing grounds and the economies that depend on them.

The lionfish is also a venomous species that can inflict a dangerous sting. Therefore the Nature Foundation requests that should anyone spot a lionfish he or she should contact the Foundation at 544-4267 or via e-mail at manager@naturefoundationsxm.org .

Source: http://www.thedailyherald.com/islands/1-islands-news/22751-eating-lionfish-is-not-recommended-.html

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