An Alaskan fisherman has caught the attention of social media users after documenting a unique and vibrant fish that has natural blue flesh. Joe Chmeleck, owner of The Lodge at Otter Cove in Homer, Alaska, reeled in a rock greenling late last month and shared his remarkable catch on Facebook and Instagram. The fish, with its orange-speckled appearance, undergoes a surprising transformation when cooked, turning from blue to white. Chmeleck’s posts have garnered significant attention, with many people expressing their amazement at the existence of such a fish.
The rock greenling is a species of ray-finned marine fish typically found along the northern Pacific Coast, from California to Alaska. Known for their ability to blend into rocky environments, rock greenlings possess dark scales with a mottled pattern in various colors such as brown, red, orange, and green. However, what sets them apart is their blue or blue-green mouths and flesh, a result of the fish’s biological production of biliverdin, a green bile. Scientists remain uncertain about the reason behind the blue-green pigments in their tissue.
Although Chmeleck’s catch has intrigued many, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game has been unable to provide consumption advice for rock greenlings due to the lack of a sufficient sample size to determine mercury levels in the species. Nonetheless, Chmeleck described the taste of the rock greenling as similar to trout, offering a potential culinary experience for adventurous seafood enthusiasts.
Chmeleck’s posts about his blue-fleshed catch have generated significant engagement on social media, with over 1,000 reactions, 600 comments, and 3,700 shares on Facebook and Instagram combined. Many users expressed their astonishment at the beauty and uniqueness of the fish, stating that they had never seen anything like it before. The posts have sparked a conversation about the wonders of nature and the incredible diversity that exists within the marine world.
The story of Joe Chmeleck’s rock greenling catch serves as a reminder of the remarkable and unexpected discoveries that can be made in the natural world. It highlights the awe-inspiring beauty and diversity found in the ocean, while also raising questions about the fascinating adaptations and biological processes that occur within different species. Chmeleck’s documentation of his catch has not only entertained and intrigued social media users but has also provided valuable insight into a lesser-known fish species.
