Tropical two-wing flyingfish, Exocoetus volitans, illustration by Olof Gylling (1850-1928)
Flying fish, often preserved by drying, are a staple of the Tao people of Orchid Island. In Japanese cuisine, flying fish roe (Tobiko), often from Cheilopogon agoo (Japanese flying fish), is used to make some types of sushi. Historically the country of Barbados was nicknamed as "The land of the Flying fish." Today it remains the official national fish for the country. The once abundant flying fish migrated between the warm coral-filled Atlantic Ocean surrounding the island of Barbados and the plankton-rich outflows of the Orinoco River in Venezuela. Just after the completion of the Deep Water Harbor in Bridgetown, Barbados saw an increase of international ships, linking the island to the world. As a result the overall health of the coral reefs surrounding Barbados suffered due to ship-based pollution. Additionally over-fishing by Barbadians has meant the species of flying fish have slowly retreated closer to the Orinoco river delta no longer returning around Barbados in large numbers. Today the flying fish only annually migrate as far north as the island of Tobago, around 120 nautical miles southwest of Barbados. Despite the move, Flying fish have remained a coveted delicacy in Barbados. In recent times the flying fish have also been gaining in culinary popularity in other islands, adding fuel to several Caribbean-maritime disputes. In 2006 the council of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea handed down a ruling fixing the maritime boundaries between Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago over the flying fish dispute which gradually raised inter-island tensions between the ruling stated that both countries must now preserve flying fish stock for the future. Barbadian fishers have still tried to follow the flying fish southward in search of the Barbadian delicacy. Flying fish remain an important part of Barbados' main national dish which is known as Cou-Cou and Flying Fish.
Size: 5096px × 3435px
Photo credit: © markku murto/art / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
Keywords: -, -wing, 19th, agoo, animal, art, baked, century, cheilopogon, commercial, cooked, drawing, drying, exocoetus, fish, fisher, fishing, flyingfish, food, fried, game, gylling, illustration, painting, salted, sashimi, seafood, smoked, sport, sports, sushi, tropical, vintage, volitans
