Nassau Grouper | Oceana
Home / Nassau Grouper

Marine Life Encyclopedia

Ocean Fishes

Nassau Grouper

Epinephelus striatus

Distribution

ECOSYSTEM/HABITAT

Coral reefs

FEEDING HABITS

Sit and wait predator

TAXONOMY

Order Perciformes (perch-like fishes), Family Epinephelidae (groupers and relatives)

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. During the majority of the year, Nassau groupers are reddish brown in coloration, with vertical light bars along the head and body. During mating, however, males become black on top and white below and females become almost solid black. Nassau 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 lobsters, and they swallow them quickly and efficiently.

Nassau grouper reproduce in only a few places and during only a few months each year. These fish always spawn immediately after the full moon during the winter months, when they form very large groups called spawning aggregations. Throughout its entire geographic range, there are less than 100 known spawning aggregation sites where Nassau grouper reproduce year after year, and historically these aggregations included hundreds, if not thousands, of individuals reproducing together for a few days before returning to their home reefs. Individual Nassau groupers are known to travel several dozen miles and further to form part of a spawning aggregation. At the aggregation sites, these fish reproduce by a method known as broadcast spawning, where females release eggs and several males release sperm into the water column above deep reefs all at the same time. This method increases the likelihood that eggs will become successfully fertilized and that fertilized eggs will not be eaten by egg predators on the reef surface.

While they were historically very common, Nassau groupers are now considered to be endangered by scientists. The behavior of forming dense spawning aggregations, where all the individuals from several square miles meet in once place, makes them an easy target for fishers. Even fishers who use relatively low impact methods (like hook and line fishing) have proven an ability to lower Nassau grouper numbers to dangerous lows. These fish utilize the same, few locations and same, few days for spawning every year, so their presence is quite predictable. Furthermore, once a spawning aggregation has been fished to zero, scientists fear that they may not ever recover. Unfortunately, several documented aggregations throughout the Nassau grouper’s range no longer form. While considered endangered, Nassau groupers are still fished in many places around the Caribbean, but scientists and conservationists have been successful in having them protected during their spawning season, in an effort to help this valuable and ecologically important species recover.

Engage Youth with Sailors for the Sea

Oceana joined forces with Sailors for the Sea, an ocean conservation organization dedicated to educating and engaging the world’s boating community. Sailors for the Sea developed the KELP (Kids Environmental Lesson Plans) program to create the next generation of ocean stewards. Click here or below to download hands-on marine science activities for kids.

Kids Environmental Lesson Plans

Additional Resources:

IUCN Red List

Get Involved

Donate Today

SUPPORT OUR WORK TO PROTECT THE OCEANS BY GIVING TODAY

With the support of more than 1 million activists like you, we have already protected nearly 4 million square miles of ocean.

Donate Now

TAKE ACTION NOW

Support policy change for the oceans

Decision-makers need to hear from ocean lovers like you. Make your voice heard!

Sign Now

VISIT OUR ADOPTION CENTER

SYMBOLICALLY ADOPT AN ANIMAL TODAY

Visit our online store to see all the ocean animals you can symbolically adopt, either for yourself or as a gift for someone else.

Shop Today

DOWNLOAD OCEAN ACTIVITIES

HELP KIDS DISCOVER OUR BLUE PLANET

Our free KELP (Kids Environmental Lesson Plans) empower children to learn about and protect our oceans!

Learn More

FEATURED CAMPAIGN

Save the Oceans, Feed the World

We are restoring the world’s wild fish populations to serve as a sustainable source of protein for people.

Learn More

More CAMPAIGNs

Protect Habitat

Bycatch

Plastics

View All

CONTACT

Oceana International Headquarters
1025 Connecticut Avenue, Suite 200
Washington, DC 20036 USA

General Inquiries
+1(202)-833-3900
info@oceana.org

Donation Inquiries
+1(202)-996-7174
wavemaker@oceana.org

Press Inquiries
+1(202)-833-3900
press@oceana.org

OCEANA'S EFFICIENCY

BECOME A WAVEMAKER

Sign up today to get weekly updates and action alerts from Oceana.

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT WITH A DONATION

We have already protected nearly 4 million square miles of ocean and innumerable sea life - but there is still more to be done.

Donate Now

QUICK LINKS: