In this coastal country - it's hard to find anyone who doesn't like Snapper or Grouper - and those prized fish are even more delectable when they are filleted.
But there's a thing about that filet business - which is always a little suspect. The filet is the boneless part of the fish - but because it's been sliced up - you can't see the skin, the head or any of the identifying features.
Well, a researcher from North Carolina University who's doing her Doctoral thesis in Belize performed DNA testing on 150 pieces of what is sold as Grouper or Snapper filet - and guess what she found? None of it was snapper! Courtney Cox discussed her surprising findings:
Courtney Cox, researcher
"I have access and analyze over 150 fillet samples from all throughout Belize and which were all sold to me as snapper or grouper and I have not found one snapper through genetic analysis. I found a few grouper but no snappers."
Cox bought her fish at open and closed fish markets, as well as supermarkets and stores.
But she wasn't doing consumer research - she was trying to find out if parrotfish is still being sold as filet. In May of 2009, Belize signed unto a ban against harvesting the parrotfish and Cox has been visiting for the past three years to monitor parrotfish populations and their prevalence on the market.
The good news is - even as you may be eating "Cato" filet - the parrotfish numbers on the reef are going up - and its prevalence at fish-markets as mystery filet is going down.
Now Cox wants your help in finishing her research. She is asking any member of the public to give her a sample of their filet so she can also send that to North Carolina for testing. Here's why:
Courtney Cox, researcher
"I would like to have a greater sample size so I am asking anyone in Belize from restaurants, anyone who is selling fillets - if they would be willing to provide me with a very small piece of fish and I can test it genetically and I can supply them with a report that's telling them what fish they are actually selling and Healthy Reefs is offering a free t-shirt to anyone who can provide a fish sample. It would greatly benefit my research and I can have a greater impact and greater sample size and be able to tell the people of Belize what they are actually eating."
So if you have some uncooked filet you would like tested, just call Courtney Cox at 627-8737, and she'll come and take a small sample of the fish - and within three months you'll know just what was on your plate.
Her research is facilitated by the SOUTHERN ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATION,
HEALTHY REEFS AND THE FISHERIES DEPARTMENT…
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