Flying Fish -- St. Lucian Cuisine

Flying fish belong to the family Exocoetidae, with around 64 species found in tropical and subtropical oceans. They propel themselves out of the water using their powerful tails and extend their wing-like pectoral fins to glide above the surface for distances of up to 200 metres. Known locally as balaou, flying fish are abundant in the Atlantic waters off St. Lucia's east coast and form the cornerstone of the island's culinary identity, served grilled or fried alongside green fig, saltfish, dasheen, and rice and peas in fishing villages throughout the island.