Voice of The Sea TV – Ciguatara Poisoning Episode

Ciguatera is a well-known issue here in Hawai‘i. Many spearfishers have been impacted by this poisoning, reporting symptoms ranging from flu-like feelings to more severe vomiting, gastrointestinal, and neurological issues.

You can get ciguatera poisoning by eating fish contaminated with toxins produced by tiny algae found around coral reefs. This episode on Voices of the Sea TV highlights key connections that many might not realize, and connecting local knowledge like how outbreaks often follow heavy rains or even coincide with the flowering of certain trees, such as the wiliwili tree.

Ciguatera comes from a common algal bloom that’s been in the Pacific long before humans. It’s a regional issue, and knowing how it works can help us make smart choices about the fish we eat. Avoid eating Roi (peacock grouper) and fatty fish parts like the brain and eyes, where the toxin concentrates most.

Less than a quarter of ciguatera poisonings are reported, but as fishermen, we should be actively reporting incidents to help researchers better understand and track ciguatera, keeping our communities safer.

If you spearfish in Hawaii and love eating fish, this episode is a must-watch — it’s full of insights that can help protect you and your ʻohana!

Mahalo to Voices of the Sea TV for sharing such important education with our community.

https://seagrant.soest.hawaii.edu/ciguatera-poisoning/

More information on ciguatera fish poisoning – https://health.hawaii.gov/docd/disease_listing/ciguatera/