TravelWorld International Magazine Fall 2022

Duster
cooking
Lion Fish
s lionfish
populations
grow,
they put
additional
stress on
coral
reefs. A study of a coral reef
in the Bahamas found that two
years after the rise in the lionfish
population, “the biomass of
the 42 species that lionfish eat
had declined by 65 percent.”
Lionfish eat herbivores, and
herbivores eat algae from coral
reefs. Without herbivores, algal
growth goes unchecked, which
can be detrimental to the reef ’s
health. These reefs are already
struggling from the effects of
climate change, pollution, disease,
overfishing, sedimentation, and
other stressors. This has led to
seven coral species in lionfish
infested areas as being listed as
“in danger”.
Yoshi
preparing
Sushi
Lionfish continue to expand at
astonishing speeds and are harming
native coral reef ecosystems in
the Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and
Caribbean. Biologists suspect that
lionfish populations have not yet
peaked in the Gulf of Mexico, which
means that their demand for native
prey will continue to increase. Recent
research has also revealed that lionfish
can tolerate brackish coastal zones.
Mangrove and estuarine habitats may
also be at risk of invasion.
According to an article by Lina
Zeldovich, “Scientists aren’t sure
what preys on lionfish in their native
Pacific—possibly sharks or eels, whose
Atlantic counterparts may not have yet
learned to recognize lionfish as a food
source. Right now, the only predators
to keep them in check are humans.”
At Harbor Docks, as we watched the
sushi chef Yoshi Eddings prepare our
meal, she said, “I’m making sushi from
some beautiful lionfish caught here
in Destin, which I’ve never seen in
Tokyo... but it’s a very nice fish.” She
made a torched lionfish roll with fresh
yuzu, a popular Japanese citrus. She
also prepared lionfish sashimi with a
miso paste and vinegar mixture. She
said, “Lionfish has a clean, mild taste
so I like to keep it simple and let the
fish stand out.
You will enjoy it.”
We went back into the kitchen and
watched chef Duster Strawbridge
prepare a beautiful lionfish with a
ginger risotto. We appreciated getting
the chance to try the fish both raw and
cooked.
The sushi was tender and the cooked
fish was soft and flaky with a lovely,
unique taste. A way to eat a delectable
meal in a wonderful atmosphere while
also helping sustain coral reefs?
You can’t go wrong!
Beach in Destin, Florida
49