 |
| Image via celebratebig.com |
The sea egg is one of the seventeen (17) species of sea urchins found in the coastal waters of Barbados. Also known as white sea eggs, they are picked from the sea floor by divers. Sea eggs are primarily found in the south coast of Barbados. Special equipment is not required for picking sea eggs so almost anyone can collect them because they can be seen by the naked eye.
They are male or female but the organs of either are eaten. Sea eggs can only be harvested in designated periods. Barbados is a country dedicated to the preservation of the health of the waters surrounding the island. Therefore sea egg picking is controlled by the Laws of Barbados to avoid depletions of the species.
During the "closed season" any person found marketing or diving for sea eggs is guilty of an offense and is liable to a fine not exceeding $50,000.00 or imprisonment for a term of two (2) years or both.
Sea eggs can be eaten raw, stewed or fried. On the black market ½ pint of sea egg can cost as much as Bds $70 - $100. Today, sea eggs are kept in plastic containers compared to being scooped out with a spoon and placed in a sea grape leaf shaped into a cone with it being held together with a hard piece of grass.
The harvesting of sea eggs provides employment and income in Barbados as well as other Caribbean islands for fishermen. Self employed persons mainly dominate the Barbados Fishing Industry. Although some persons use fishing as recreation, it mainly provides employment for an estimated six thousand (6,000) persons currently in Barbados. So when in Barbados, seek out sea eggs from any fisherman or supermarket and try this delicacy.
No comments:
Post a Comment