Why We Should Not Eat Parrotfish?
Experts around the world are studying the issue of fishery and sustainability to a great extent. One important rule to follow in sustainability is that what goes in must come out in some form. A living form in the ocean, such as parrot fish, has sometimes produced a useful and healthy element for its own habitat.
Little that we know, the great thing about parrot fish is that they ‘produce’ sand.
Parrot fish is a fish with big beaks and bright colour. We have to admit that its very unique bright colour makes it one of the most eye-catching fish in many freshwater aquariums. The common name parrot fish has its scientific name Scaridae. They are omnivore with a life span in the wild up to 7 years. The bright colouring is not the only remarkable characteristic of this fish. They live in coral reefs and spend their days chomping down on coral.
Chewing the coral all day? Yes, researchers have found that they have one of the strongest teeth in the world. In addition, they also eat the soft-bodied organisms that cover the skeleton and the algae that live inside them. And the special thing is that when they poop, the soft tissues are absorbed and the remains come out as sands. Throughout the year, one large parrotfish may produce 450 Kilograms of sand. It is probably equal to a baby grand piano!
It has a relatively good population though. Parrotfish are abundant in and around the tropical reefs of all the world’s oceans. There are about 80 identified species, ranging in size from less than 1 to 4 feet in length. Their meat is rarely consumed in the US, but is a delicacy in many other parts of the world. In Polynesia, for instance, it is served raw and was once considered ‘royal food’, which was eaten only by the king.
