Activities in Utila for Non-Diver and after Dives

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I was only ever served undersized at RJ's, never at Bubalu's. It is pretty ironic that all the restaurants there have those types of practices considering they all display the sustainable seafood signs very prominently. Just so that you know, I will probably be doing sustainability best practices training for restaurants in Utila after doing it in Roatan this summer. The major issue is getting that message across to the community of fishermen who are bringing in the catch. They still bring in sharks. Really they should all be serving Lionfish, but most in the fishing communities think the entire fish is toxic, even though they still catch and serve Barracuda which is linked to Cigutera poisoning.


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I will probably be doing sustainability best practices training for restaurants in Utila after doing it in Roatan this summer.

Oh come on, like this will matter? I know its negative and I am not sorry for it, It is simply reality, Just this week at least two major grocery stores had in their freezers undersized lobster, so undersized and out of season, Of course these are owned by big name folks. Do you really think that lobster, conch, crab, grouper etc.. will be taken away from the tourist dollar? There are laws to regulate fishing already in place, just as there are laws in Honduras about killing people, no cell phone use while driving, no two male riders on moto's etc.. They just do not get enforced. Its a great idea but if you have spent time around the area you can't really think it will work.
Maybe if you click those shiny red shoes together three times..
 
many people have complained to babalu about selling lobster out of season to no avail, he just shrugs his shoulders and rolls his eyes. even bica has spoken to him about it but he just ignores them and they have no recourse. the funny thing is last year the green moray eel that lived in front of the restaurant (it was a bit of a tourist attraction as it was fed scraps from the kitchen) disappeared and he went to bica and demanded they investigate the poaching of "his" eel.
 
FWIW when I was on the island in February, the Bundu had become The Buccaneer Grill, their menu had been gutted and there was so much salt in the food that it was near impossible to eat there. I'm saying this as someone who used to eat there every day in 2011 ans who, in 2012, lived right next to the place.

For a three week stay on the island, forget hotels, get an apartment, way more bang for the buck plus it's an apartment, not a hotel room. Do yourself a favour, spend your first half day on the island looking around.
 
Things to do:

Kayak to the northside thru the mangrove forest. Bring water, snorkel gear, and lunch.
Hike to the top of Pumpkin Hill. Don't send a female alone, there was a recent rape up there.
Cycle around the island paths. Or golf cart/ATV if you are not in shape.
Explore the 3 cave systems. 2 are frehswater snorkeling/freediving and the other is a bat cave.
Snorkel the lighthouse.
Drink. Heavily.

Places to avoid at all costs:

Babalu... for the reasons stated already... plus the food isn't really very good anyway.
Bucaneer Grill (formerly Bandu Cafe)... for the reason already stated.

FWIW, freshorangina, Lionfish also carry cig poisoning. We probably shouldn't be pushing them to be eaten any more than we do 'cudas and similar.
 
Oh come on, like this will matter? I know its negative and I am not sorry for it, It is simply reality...
Maybe if you click those shiny red shoes together three times..

Well I don't think its any better to just be complacent about the situation. I just recently decided to give up fish and seafood (with the only exception being Lionfish), something I never thought I would do as it was pretty much the mainstay of my diet. Will there always be tourists wanting to eat Lobster, sure. But that does not mean I will ever stop trying to influence the situation. If the reef dies, and there is nothing nice to sea beneath the waves, what will the situation be like then. I tend to be an optimist, even though I know how incredibly bad the situation is. All the more reason to fight for it.

---------- Post added April 22nd, 2012 at 04:56 PM ----------

Sorry to hear about Bundu, how sad, I loved that place. :(

I have not heard any documented cases of Lionfish having cigutera, of you have any info or articles I would really appreciate it if you could send some links. I am planning on doing more research on it for my PhD once I am done my Masters. :)
 
Well I don't think its any better to just be complacent about the situation. I just recently decided to give up fish and seafood (with the only exception being Lionfish), something I never thought I would do as it was pretty much the mainstay of my diet. Will there always be tourists wanting to eat Lobster, sure. But that does not mean I will ever stop trying to influence the situation. If the reef dies, and there is nothing nice to sea beneath the waves, what will the situation be like then. I tend to be an optimist, even though I know how incredibly bad the situation is. All the more reason to fight for it.

---------- Post added April 22nd, 2012 at 04:56 PM ----------

Sorry to hear about Bundu, how sad, I loved that place. :(

I have not heard any documented cases of Lionfish having cigutera, of you have any info or articles I would really appreciate it if you could send some links. I am planning on doing more research on it for my PhD once I am done my Masters. :)


You haven't been paying attention then. Google is your friend :)

More data emerges about ciguatera toxin in lionfish | Green Antilles
 
https://www.shearwater.com/products/perdix-ai/

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