Answer for Invasive Species: Put It on a Plate and Eat It

The New York Times recently released an article about the lionfish and how with increasing numbers they are becoming devastating to the reef fish populations along the Florida coast and the Caribbean. Invasive species have become a vexing problem in the United States, with population explosions of Asian carp clogging the Mississippi River and European green crabs mobbing the coasts. With few natural predators in North America, such fast-breeding species have thrived in American waters, eating native creatures and out-competing them for food and habitats.
Why not eat a species that is causing harm, and with your meal make a positive contribution?” As a solution to this problem environmentalists, consumer groups and scientists want Americans to start eating the lionfish. Lionfish, can carry ciguatoxin, which causes vomiting and neurological symptoms, so they cannot be taken from water where the microbe that produces the toxin is found. The fish’s venomous spines must be removed before sale, although that is not a serious marketing obstacle.
To increase culinary demand, Food and Water Watch teamed up with the James Beard Foundation and Kerry Heffernan, the chef at the South Gate restaurant in New York City, to devise recipes using the creatures. At a recent tasting, there was Asian carp ceviche and braised lionfish filet in brown butter sauce.
Lionfish, it turns out, looks hideous but tastes great. The group had to hire fishermen to catch animals commonly regarded as pests. Mr. Heffernan said he would consider putting them on his menu. So as it turns out lionfish fritters and filets may be on American tables soon.
I think this is a great article and it has a great solution. Although I personally would not eat lionfish I am sure many Americans would love to try something new and especially if it was to save the reef and take pressure off depleted ocean fish stocks.



http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/10/science/earth/10fish.html?ref=science
http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2011/jul/10/lionfish-strategy-if-you-cant-beat-em-eat-20110710/