Abstract

Large groupers (genus Epinephelus and Mycteroperca) are extremely vulnerable to overfishing due to a combination of life history traits: slow growth, long life, late sexual maturity, strong site fidelity, and spawning aggregations. Goliath grouper, Epinephelus itajara, are critically endangered throughout the Caribbean, except in Florida due to a fishing ban in U.S. federal and state waters since 1992. In adult E. itajara, specific behaviors such us being curious and unafraid of divers have been identified as an additional risk factor for overfishing. However, the behavior of juveniles and its relevance to conservation has been largely unexplored. This study examines the behavior of 52 juvenile E. itajara, along fringing red mangrove Rhizophora mangle shorelines of the Florida Keys, USA. Visual underwater surveys and digital video were used to record behavior. Several behaviors never before documented are described along with comparisons between juvenile and adult behavior. I discuss the conservation implications of ‘group size’, ‘habitat-specific activity’, ‘gaping’, ‘smoke-screen escape’ and ‘sleeping’.

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