Their harvest is prohibited in the United States , while regulations elsewhere is limited. Some countries have no regulations in place to protect Nassau grouper.
Can you eat Nassau grouper?
This fish is considered an important food fish throughout the Caribbean and in the West Indies. Hook and line as well as traps are the main methods used to capture the Nassau grouper. The flesh is primarily marketed as fresh, however there have been reports of ciguatera poisoning from human consumption of this fish.
Are Nassau grouper protected in the Bahamas?
To help sustain the Bahamian Nassau grouper fishery, protection of Nassau grouper spawning aggregations began in 1998 with seasonal closures during the winter months During the closed season the capture or sale of Nassau grouper is prohibited.
Why are Nassau groupers endangered?
The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists the Nassau grouper as critically endangered, due to commercial and recreational fishing and reef destruction Fishing the species is prohibited in US federal waters.
Why are nassau groupers important?
Caribbean reefs with large numbers of predators, like Nassau groupers, are known to be healthier than reefs with no predators , so this species may represent an important part of the reef food web.
Do Nassau groupers eat yellowtail snappers?
Adult Nassau Groupers generally eat a diet of mainly fish (parrotfish, wrasses, damselfish, squirrelfish, snapper and grunts).
What is the closed season for the Nassau grouper?
Nassau Grouper Season Closure 2021 – Government – Notices. The following serves to inform the General Public the Nassau Grouper Season will be closed effective 1st december 2021 until 28th February 2022.
What month is Nassau grouper illegal?
December 1st – February 28th marks the Nassau Grouper Closed Season. This means that it’s illegal to land, purchase or sell Nassau Grouper during this 3 month winter period.
What is grouper season in The Bahamas?
70% of all grouper landed in The Bahamas are Nassau groupers. 40% of the total annual landings are made during the months of November through February.
How do you fish grouper in The Bahamas?
These fish can be easily tempted with live bait in shallow waters. Although harvest fishing of groupers is banned during spawning season, offshore fishing for groupers can be accomplished with heavy tackle, jigs, and slow-trolled lures.
What eats grouper fish?
Predators of groupers include large fish such as barracuda, king mackerel and moray eels, as well as other groupers The sandbar shark (Carcharhinus plumbeus) and the great hammerhead shark (Sphyrna mokarran) are also known to feed on groupers. Large adults of this species likely have very few natural predators.
Why is the grouper important?
What’s more, the grouper’s eggs are also consumed by local sharks. Given importance of these fish as predator and prey alike , the Nassau grouper is considered to be a ‘canary in a coal mine’ for coral reefs, meaning the decline of the grouper often indicates a reef is in poor health.
How old can groupers get?
Goliath grouper are relatively long-lived, with a maximum known age to be at least 37 years old. However, some scientists estimate that these fish may have the ability to live over 50 or even 100 years.
Is grouper good to eat?
Thanks to its subtle flavor that easily absorbs dressings and marinades, grouper is excellent however you serve it Fish sandwiches made with either a thick slice of blackened grouper or battered and deep-fried bite-size pieces of grouper are one of the best and most simple ways to enjoy this fish.
Do you need a license to fish in Bahamas?
Yes. All persons over the age of 12 are required to have a licence to fish the flats Licences are issued by the Department of Marine Resources in New Providence, or the Out Island Administrators in the Out Islands. Fly fishing licenses will be available on Go Outdoors Bahamas for pre-registration online soon.
Why are groupers important on coral reef?
Groupers include a variety of genera and species. They are important fish in coral reef ecosystems around the world because of their role in controlling population sizes of other lower trophic level fishes.
Does grouper migrate?
But what many anglers probably don’t realize is that most species of grouper are known to migrate long distances to spawn Both gag grouper (Mycteroperca microlepis) and Nassau grouper (Epinephelus striatus) are known to migrate hundreds of miles.
How do groupers eat?
Atlantic goliath groupers feed by swallowing their prey whole ; they do not chew. They use their very large mouths to create enough negative pressure to suck in whole fishes or large invertebrates, and they swallow them quickly and efficiently.
Can you bring fish back from Bahamas?
Reef fish (managed as snapper grouper in the U.S.) as well as dolphin and wahoo may be brought back from the Bahamas as fillets All other species must be brought back in the condition specified in U.S. federal rules (example: cobia, tuna, swordfish must be brought back in whole condition).
Where can groupers be found?
Its range includes the Gulf of Mexico and Florida Keys in the United States, the Bahamas, most of the Caribbean, and most of the Brazilian coast On some occasions, goliath grouper have been caught off the coast of New England in Massachusetts and Maine.
Is spearfishing legal in Bahamas?
The use of a spear gun is not allowed in The Bahamas It is illegal to use any type of underwater air supply for spear fishing or collecting of any marine life. This includes scuba gear as well as air compressors.
Sources
https://www.bahamas.gov.bs/wps/wcm/connect/cf35966a-cbcf-4138-ae4d-7a15ab062ea3/The+Nassau+Grouper.pdf?MOD=AJPERES&CONVERT_TO=url&CACHEID=cf35966a-cbcf-4138-ae4d-7a15ab062ea3
https://oceana.org/marine-life/nassau-grouper/
https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/profiles/saltwater/grouper/nassau-grouper/