Can you eat parrot fish?

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I remember how shocked I was when I saw an ad in an Australian magazine that showed a fisherman with a brightly colored parrotfish he had just caught. I just never translated from our fishers catching the kelp bass I see daily on my dives to someone else catching the fish common to their oceans.

Based on that picture I'd guess they are edible, but it is always wise to check with someone who has knowledge of the local species. I'm not aware of any commercial fishery for them, but would imagine if they are edible they are caught by the native reef fishers.
 
Yes, you can eat Parrotfish, but why would you want to?
 
Yep. I'm halfway back from vacation in the BVI, and in the local grocery stores they have parrotfish along with a whole range of other reef fish that you wouldn't expect to be eaten. Kind of heartbreaking to see them on the reef and then see them in the fridge, when there are plenty of less 'pretty' fish to eat.
 
I was also told by a local captain that parrotfish are eaten locally in the BVIs, and that some of the trap floats you see bobbing around are for parrotfish, and not just crustaceans. Only locals can legally trap however. I second CJ's query, "why would you want to?"
 
CJ's:
Yes, you can eat Parrotfish, but why would you want to?

They taste great!
Parrotfish are a bit of a local delicacy here, most fish that you'll find at the supermarket, fish market etc. are parrotfish, snapper or some other sort of reef-associated fish.

Fishbase.org notes that there have been reports of ciguatera poisoning from eating parrotfish, although I've never heard of it occuring here myself.
http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/SpeciesSummary.cfm?genusname=Scarus&speciesname=taeniopterus
http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/FamilySummary.cfm?ID=364

You should try it though, it tastes great when fried.
To each their own...
 
Jamdiver:
You should try it though, it tastes great when fried.
To each their own...



Just about ANYTHING tastes good when fried!
 
fookisan:
Can you eat parrot fish - the bright colored ones that graze on the rocks or coral and poop out sand?

Dan

Yes you can and they taste great! Had them a few times while we were down in Hurghada, Egypt.
 
https://www.shearwater.com/products/peregrine/

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