Goliath Grouper Aggregation and Spawning Project by Mike Phelan
The Florida Oceanographic Society has received funding from the Korzenewski Foundation of West Palm Beach and material support from the Jupiter Dive Center to conduct a survey of the Goliath Grouper aggregation and possible spawning behavior on the reefs near Jupiter inlet.
Volunteer divers from the Florida Oceanographic Society's Palm Beach County Reef Research Team will be conducting surveillance dives in September at several artificial reef locations to document the aggregation and possible spawning behaviors. Local fisherman have reported that the Jupiter area was once a Goliath Grouper spawning site. Identification of Jupiter area as a reestablished spawning site would make it only one of two known breeding areas in the United States. The other known site is the Ten Thousand Island area of Florida's southwest coast.
The Goliath Grouper is the largest member of the sea bass family in the Atlantic Ocean. Adults can grow to over 400 pounds and reach 8 feet in length over their estimated 35 year life span. The Goliath Grouper is a protected species because of over fishing in the previous decades. Recently, the species has started to make a come back but because it is relatively unafraid of divers as a reef apex predator, it could easily be hunted out in just a matter of a few days by spear fishermen.
Goliath Groupers are sighted year round along the natural reef ledges from Juno north to Hobe Sound. Many divers are familiar with their signature bellowing or barking sound that they make when a diver approaches too close. During the later summer months, aggregations of 20 - 40 Goliath Groupers assemble near artificial reef sites such as sunken barges or ships. The Goliath Grouper study will attempt to better document this aggregation behavior and observe spawning. This new documentation will be important in crafting a marine resource management plan to support the continued recovery of this most spectacular local reef inhabitant.
For further information, contact Mike Phelan, Florida Oceanographic Society Goliath Grouper Project Manager (772) 341-4146.
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www.floridaoceanographic.org