Atlantic goliath grouper: a brazilian in distress | bioaquaria

Atlantic goliath grouper: a Brazilian in distress | bioaquaria

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Atlantic goliath grouper: a Brazilian in distress

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By Áthila Bertoncini and Maíra Borgonha | on June 28, 2013 | 0 Comment Marine

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Atlantic goliath grouper, itajara, bodete, badejão or whiting white. Many are the names used to identify Epinephelus itajara, which in local language means "Lord of the stones." The species was first described in 1822 by the German naturalist researcher Martin Heinrich Carl Lichtenstein, providing a brilliant analogy to one of the main habitats used by one of the greatest groupers representatives (Family Epinephelidae) in the Atlantic Ocean.

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Atlantic goliath grouper: a Brazilian in distress | bioaquaria

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Featuring photo (above): © Áthila Bertoncini

Out of curiosity, Brazilian grouper differs from the Portuguese one, indeed! In Portugal the species is Epinephelus marginatus, the dusky grouper, known as the “real” grouper in Brazil.

Today, the Brazilian grouper has a somewhat sad path designed to survival against human action, but that has been gradually changing with some signs of improvement.

© Áthila Bertoncini

Giant King Lonely and docile, the Atlantic goliath grouper has a wide geographical distribution [Atlantic, from North Carolina (USA) - Caribbean - to Santa Catarina in southern Brazil, and the African coast from Senegal to Congo], inhabits a wide diversity of environments, including both rocky shores of subtropical waters to tropical reefs, estuaries and mangroves. In fact, it is in mangroves that they spend much of their early lives, finding shelter and plenty of food.

Known for their large size, they may reach 2.5 meters in length, weigh 450 kg and live for around 40 years. They are carnivorous that feed on crustaceans (lobsters), fish (catfish and rays), and even young turtles.

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Like many grouper species, they form large shoals in order to reproduce. At one time of the year, subject to lunar cycle, numerous groupers meet, usually along

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the natural or even artificial reefs, like offshore wrecks, to launch their gametes that, after transforming into larvae, travel with ocean currents to the species http://www.bioaquaria.com/?p=7000

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Atlantic goliath grouper: a Brazilian in distress | bioaquaria

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nursery habitats near coast.

The set of biological characteristics that involve their slow but significant growth and their aggregations for reproductive purposes, although making them extremely vulnerable to capture, also provide a unique spectacle when we dive with them.

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© Áthila Bertoncini

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Not always the diving with these fishes was merely considered a contemplative experience. Historically, they have been captured as magnificent and valuable trophies. Reports and stories of amazing fish that demanded colossal efforts to

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be captured, and then brought to light are well known and were often repeated along the Brazilian coast.

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But the days when these groupers were displayed as large fishery awards are in the past. Over the last decades the Atlantic goliath grouper population in Brazil was dramatically reduced by both sport and commercial fishing. Considered critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) since 2002, the Atlantic goliath grouper is a protected species in Brazil, but still at risk because the moratorium extends only until 2015!

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Atlantic goliath grouper in Brasil

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In 2002, the first actions of the Project "Meros do Brazil" were initiated, which in

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involving several institutions, with the grouper as a flag to achieve a larger goal: the Conservation of Coastal and Marine Environment of Brazil. Today, Project "Meros do Brazil" is sponsored by Petrobras Environmental Program. The Project operates in seven Brazilian states and their actions for Research and

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Conservation aim to obtain information to support species management.

How to protect the Atlantic goliath grouper Experienced divers and fishermen have borrowed their stories in favour of a http://www.bioaquaria.com/?p=7000

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new future for this species. In a diverse dialogue of knowledge, project researchers have used technology and information as a strategy for their conservation.

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One of the highlighted initiatives is the photo-identification project which aims to obtain information from labelling/recapture techniques with the creation of an images database on behaviour and colour and movement patterns. Despite scarce in natural environments, this species is incredibly attracted to structures such as shipwrecks, artificial reefs and piers.

The initiative main idea is to raise awareness in society that the Atlantic goliath grouper is more valuable alive than dead, manly its great contemplative diving potential.

Š Jonas Leite

In addition, important aquaculture field research began in 2012. Research on their reproduction is unprecedented in the world. According to Dr. Eduardo Gomes Sanches, Project Serranids coordinator: "Currently the Fisheries Institute in São Paulo is the only institution in Brazil maintaining a serranids semen bank, contributing for this important species preservation to future generations.�

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© Jonas Leite

"The efforts include their captivity maintenance, fish genetic variability evaluation studies, a sperm bank and juveniles ambitiously obtained and produced in captivity, as has already been done with the dusky grouper" declares MSc. Jonas Rodrigues Leite, Meros do Brazil project consultant.

Through joint efforts of a national conservation network, various research and educational © Maíra Borgonha

institutions, associations and diving entities have joined forces to promote

marine conservation through the Atlantic goliath grouper symbolic figure. Best of luck to us all!

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Author Description Oceanographers, ﾃ》hila and Maﾃｭra work towards marine conservation through http://www.bioaquaria.com/?p=7000

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the study of fish bio-ecology and fishermen local ecological knowledge. To develop their researches, they dive and are experts in underwater photography.

Emails: athilapeixe@gmail.com; mairameros@gmail.com

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