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  • A fisherman's cage is pulled up by researchers. It is illegal to fish for Nassau grouper (Epinephelus striatus) December - February in the Bahamas when this image was taken. Lack of enforcement is a common issue in Bahamian fisheries. The scientists tagged and released the fish. It is part of an ongoing study to learn about the amazing phenomenon known as the grouper spawning aggregation. During the winter full moons the normally solitary grouper gather en masse to spawn at certain locations throughout the Caribbean and are especially vulnerable to over-fishing. Learning about these aggregations is of major importance to protect and manage the economically and culturally important fishery for these critically endangered fish.
    2016_12_13LongIslandBH590.jpg
  • Critically endangered Nassau grouper (Epinephelus striatus) gather during the winter full moons to spawn. Image made in The Bahamas.
    2016_12_13LongIslandBH401.jpg
  • Critically endangered Nassau grouper (Epinephelus striatus) gather during the winter full moons to spawn. Image made in The Bahamas.
    2016_12_13LongIslandBH397.jpg
  • Critically endangered Nassau grouper (Epinephelus striatus) on a coral reef.
    20170212GOTQ0510 2.jpg
  • A juvenile Nassau grouper (Epinephelus striatus) takes shelter in a red sponge colony. Eleuthera, Bahamas.
    20171106HI_003.jpg
  • Nassau grouper (Epinephelus striatus), a critically endangered species, is cleaned and prepared for sale at a market by a fisherman in Nassau, Bahamas.
    20180721-501_6647.jpg
  • Nassau grouper (Epinephelus striatus) yawning off Jardines de la Reina, Gardens of the Queen National Park, Cuba.
    20170215GOTQ0655.jpg
  • 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
  • A nassau grouper (Epinephelus striatus) illegally trapped in a fish pot or fish trap. Each year the Bahamas closes the nassau grouper fishery to allow the fish time and space to spawn. Lack of enforcement means fisherman can easily break the law and catch the fish. Nassau grouper are now considered critically endangered species yet are still widely available on restaurant menus.
    2015_12_15HI018.jpg
  • 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
  • Nassau grouper (Epinephelus striatus) showing the change in color pattern during spawning. During the winter full moons the normally solitary grouper gather en masse to spawn at certain locations throughout the Caribbean. Critically Endangered Species. Bahamas
    2016_12_13LongIslandBH058.jpg
  • Nassau grouper (Epinephelus striatus) are important predators on coral reefs.
    Reef Predator
  • A veterenarian implants a transmitter tag into an adult Nassau grouper in The Bahamas to learn about their movements.
    2016_12_13LongIslandBH1289.jpg
  • Dr. Krista Sherman collects a Nassau Grouper from an onboard livewell in The Bahamas to be tagged, measured and examined.
    Tracking Grouper
  • 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
  • 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 theme in Bahamian fisheries management. The scientists tagged and released the fish. It is part of an ongoing study to learn about the amazing phenomenon known as the grouper spawning aggregation. During the winter full moons the normally solitary grouper gather en masse to spawn at certain locations throughout the Caribbean and are especially vulnerable to over-fishing. Learning about these aggregations is of major importance to protect and manage the economically and culturally important fishery for these endangered fish.
    2016_12_13LongIslandBH590.jpg
  • Scientists and volunteers pull in a trap with Nassau Grouper off Long Island, Bahamas.
    2016_12_13LongIslandBH250.jpg
  • 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
  • A green light attracts plankton to a net at night off Long Island, Bahamas looking for larval Nassau Grouper.
    2016_12_13LongIslandBH156.jpg
  • 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
  • The reefs in Cuba's protected Gardens of the Queen are as healthy as they come in the Caribbean. Large predators like this Nassau grouper are a dead giveaway of a healthy ecosystem.
    NassauGrouperOnReef.jpg
  • What will the future hole for the Nassau grouper? It's up to us.
    20170212GOTQ0201.jpg
  • A Goliath grouper (Epinephelus itajara) for sale at a market in Nassau, Bahamas.
    20180721-501_6572.jpg
  • The invasive lionfish is known to feed on juvenile Nassau grouper, so much so that they begin to taste the same to fish connoisseur's. It is also speculated that grouper are one of the few fish that are beginning to feed on live lionfish - making them even more important to the ecosystem.
    2016_12_13LongIslandBH1942.jpg
  • Lionfish compete with grouper, snapper and other native species for decreasing resources. They will also eat juveniles of commercially important fish like the Nassau grouper, hogfish and snapper.
    2013_feb24_HI139.jpg
  • Lionfish tails are dried on a cutting board. They will be made into jewelry by Bahamian women. Adding value to this invasive species helps encourage fisherman to catch them instead of endangered fish like the Nassau grouper.
    Jewelry.jpg
  • Lionfish tend to hide in the reef during the day, emerging at dawn and dusk, feeding on anything they can fit in their mouth, including endangered Nassau grouper and other important commercial species as well those species important for reef health.
    20180202-DSC_3451.jpg
  • Lionfish tend to hide in the reef during the day, emerging at dawn and dusk, feeding on anything they can fit in their mouth, including endangered Nassau grouper and other important commercial species as well those species important for reef health.
    20171107HI_186.jpg
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Shane Gross

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