Today on Marine Science Minute with Florida Sea Grant: Goliath Grouper.
Goliath grouper are the largest fish in the tropical western Atlantic, growing as large as 8 feet long and weighing up to 800 pounds! Goliaths have been protected from harvest since the 1990’s and are now a huge diver attraction during summer and fall months when they gather to spawn.
Every year, Florida Sea Grant calls upon citizen scientists to assist with a monitoring project called the Great Goliath Grouper Count and you can participate too! This project utilizes recreational divers to capture data about Goliath grouper populations around the state. The data collected is a vital tool for fisheries management.
For information about this and other coastal topics, contact your county extension office or visit Florida Sea Grant at flseagrant.org.