Cou Cou and Flying Fish- We National Dish!

Since 2004, Barbados has faced tension with Trinidad and Tobago over maritime boundaries due to the migration of flying fish, a key ingredient in Barbados’s national dish, to Tobagonian waters.

Bajan fishermen pursued the fish, leading to arrests and diplomatic disputes. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea intervened in 2006, dividing the waters between the countries and urging preservation of fish stocks. Meanwhile, Barbados maintained its supply by purchasing flying fish from Tobago.

The national dish, cou cou and flying fish, features steamed flying fish paired with a cornmeal-and-okra cake, topped with an herbed sauce. Despite dwindling local fish populations, the dish remains popular and continues to be served in restaurants across Barbados.

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Credit: atlasobscura