Researchers from the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) have published results of their investigation into the consumption of lionfish in the “Marine Drugs Journal.” Since 2008, lionfish native to tropical and sub-tropical reef ecosystems in the southern Indian Ocean, South Pacific and Red Sea have been reported in waters in the territory.
“With few natural predators, high reproductive rates and high growth rates, lionfish have rapidly established populations in the northwestern Atlantic and Caribbean,” said Tyler Smith, UVI associate research professor of marine science. “These population explosions have a dramatic ecological impact on reef fish biodiversity, habitat and community structure, with lionfish out-competing native predators for resources.”
In an effort to reduce their geographical expansion into the Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea, lionfish have been identified as a sustainable seafood source. Lionfish are promoted in cookbooks and diving magazines, and are being served at fishing derbies and restaurants.
“While this could represent a great economic opportunity in local communities as an artisanal fishery, lionfish also pose a potential human health hazard as a vector for ciguatera fish poisoning in endemic regions such as the U.S. Virgin Islands,” said Bernard Castillo, UVI assistant professor of chemistry.
“Ciguatera fish poisoning is a leading cause of seafood-borne illness and is estimated to cause up to 500,000 illnesses annually,” Castillo said. Ciguatera fish poisoning is caused by the consumption of reef fish that have accumulated ciguatoxins produced by marine micro-organisms and is characterized by a variety of severe gastrointestinal, neurological and, occasionally, cardiovascular symptoms that can occur within four hours and last up to six weeks.
Fish most commonly implicated in ciguatera fish poisoning include grouper, barracuda, snapper, jack and mackerel. Ciguatoxins are tasteless, colorless and odorless; therefore, it is impossible to identify a toxic fish by sensory analysis. Importantly, these toxins are stable under normal cooking temperatures and for extended periods of freezer storage.
Researchers collected over 180 lionfish from waters surrounding the territory throughout 2010 and 2011 and tested them for their levels of ciguatoxins. General results and conclusions from the study were:
Lionfish can contain ciguatoxins at concentrations exceeding U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidance levels for safe seafood.
Lionfish can have ciguatoxins at levels 12 percent above FDA guidance; similar to other predatory fishes, such as the schoolmaster snapper.
Lionfish consumption has risks and should be treated similarly to other small predatory fishes and not consumed from areas known to produce toxic fish.
Lionfish control strategies, including marketing and eating fish, should continue in the territory, but it is best to consult an experienced commercial fisherman on which fish are likely to be less of a risk.
For more information about ongoing lionfish research at UVI, contact Howard Forbes Jr., Virgin Islands Marine Advisory Service coordinator, at 693-1672 or howard.forbes@live.uvi.edu
