Unusual catch: Hallucinogenic fish

A certain species of bream, which is normally only found in mediterranean and South African waters, was recently discovered in the nets of a British fisherman, in the English Channel.

While ‘sarpa salpa’ is a popular fish food, it has also been reported to cause ichthyoallyeinotoxism, or hallucinogenic fish poisoning. This happened in 2006, when two men had to be hospitalized after eating seafish in mediterranean restaurants. They suffered from "terrifying" hallucinations and nightmares, which lasted for days.

According to some, certain indoles (psilocybin and LSD are indole alkaloids, too) are responsible in the case of fish eating algae or phytoplankton containing these chemicals. Other experts claim that some ichthyoallyeinotoxic fish species contain DMT.

In a paper on the subject of hallucinatory fish poisonings the authors say Sarpa Salpa was consumed as a recreational drug in the Mediterranean during the Roman Empire, and Polynesian tribes used it for ceremonies.

Read the entire news article here.

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Comments

shroomsy - 2009-05-15 19:19:18

+20

It puts a whole new meaning to fish and chips more like fish and trips.

Ab Klink - 2009-05-16 10:11:22

+22

Clearly the abundance of abnormal people today has something to do with these psychedelic fish, which are probably just swimming around in the ocean free. I will be proposing full on criminalization of these fish, and fish that look like it, in parlement soon.

Leiger-KVÜ&Otil - 2009-05-17 00:51:14

-5

I just eat this fish and now I feel good and ripping in my house and I have very big bassein and Im doing underwater swimming...thankyou.....

Lars - 2009-05-17 10:07:26

FINE a fish that you can finally eat....

Jeroen - 2009-05-18 08:54:36

-2

ROFLMAO @ Ab Klink

A trip that lasts for days. Sounds nice! Maybe a little less of that fish would lessen its strengts, what may be a good thing, since not all of us want to spend days trippin`, if they even have the time for it.

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