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Nassau Grouper - Critically Endangered Icon

8 images Created 5 Jan 2017

During the winter full moons the normally solitary Nassau grouper gather en masse to spawn at certain locations throughout the Caribbean. Fisherman have exploited this phenomenon and left Nassau Grouper on the endangered species list. Learning about these aggregations is of major importance to protect and manage the economically, ecologically and culturally important fishery for these charismatic fish.

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  • Juvenile Nassau grouper (Epinephelus striatus) settle in the shallows, often taking refuge in patch reefs. At this size they are still highly vulnerable to predation. Currently (2019), the minimum size limit for harvesting Nassau grouper in The Bahamas is three pounds (approx. 17” length), yet recent science indicates that they are not sexually mature before they weigh at least five pounds.
    Shelter
  • Nassau grouper (Epinephelus striatus) are important predators on coral reefs.
    Reef Predator
  • During the winter full moons the normally solitary Nassau grouper gather en masse to spawn at certain locations throughout the Caribbean. Learning about these aggregations is of major importance to protect and manage the economically and culturally important fishery for these critically endangered fish.
    Spawning Aggregation
  • A fisherman's cage is pulled up by researchers. It is illegal to fish for Nassau grouper December - February in the Bahamas when this image was taken. Lack of enforcement is a common issue in Bahamian fisheries issues. The scientists tagged and released the fish.
    Illegal Fishing
  • Dr. Krista Sherman collects a Nassau Grouper from an onboard livewell in The Bahamas to be tagged, measured and examined.
    Tracking Grouper
  • Marine Biologist Alannah Vellacott takes a moment to film an adult Nassau grouper while doing coral surveys. Marine parks, like this one in The Exuma Cays, give heavily fished species a chance to live out their lifecycle.
    Observation
  • Two Nassau grouper rest during the daylight hours off Long Island, Bahamas. At sunset the grouper will spawn. The fish in the foreground shows the normal barred pattern while the fish in the background shows a color phase known as white-belly. During spawning the grouper will often change color and pattern. Scientists are still studying what the color changes mean.
    Spawning Colors
  • Dr. Krista Sherman brings a Nassau grouper to the depth the fish was originally caught at. The fish was implanted with a permanent tag that will transmit the fish's location for the rest of his or her life. Blood and a fin clip were also taken for genetic analysis.
    Release
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Shane Gross

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