The case of the disappearing grouper; Epinephelus striatus, the Nassau grouper, in the Caribbean and western Atlantic

Abstract

The Nassau grouper, Epinephelus striatus, was once a species of considerable commercial significance in the Caribbean and western Atlantic. Over the last two decades, however, annal landings have declined sharply in many areas, and the species is now effectively extinct commercially in Bermuda Puerto Rico, and the U. S. Virgin Islands. Of particular concern are the declines in, or losses of, fully one fifth of spawning aggregations. Because these likely represent the total yearly reproductive output of participating individuals, their disappearance or disturbance will inevitably influence future recruitment and fishery yield. The apparent vulnerability of this species to heavy exploitation is believed to result from a combination of its biology (i.e., long life, slow growth, etc.), large size of sexual maturation relative to other components of multispecies fisheries, its aggregating habit and its susceptibility to fish traps and the speargun. Recommendations are made for the protection of spawning biomass through the management of aggregations, and for reducing growth overfishing through the introduction of marine reserves. Biological and fishery information necessary to monitor, manage and restore stocks is identified.