Abstract

Following decades of overfishing, harvest of Goliath grouper Epinephelus itajara in U.S. waters was prohibited in 1990. The population in Florida has responded well to protective measures and numbers have been rebuilding since the moratorium. However, stock assessment remains complicated and the full extent of recovery throughout their geographic range remains unclear. Since 2010, Florida Sea Grant and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Fish and Wildlife Research Institute have coordinated an annual citizen science event to provide data as related to the distribution and abundance of Goliath grouper in Florida. During this “Great Goliath Grouper Count” trained volunteer divers collect data via underwater surveys at designated artificial reefs throughout Florida. What began as a regional effort in southwest Florida has expanded over the past twelve years to include sites in the northern Gulf of Mexico, Florida Keys and Atlantic coast of Florida. Every year during the first two weeks of June, divers complete standardized data reports that are compiled and submitted to management. To date, over 100 volunteers have spent more than 330 hours underwater and completed 726 surveys. Largest numbers of Goliath grouper were observed in southwest Florida, and were typically associated with high volume, high relief artificial reefs. Extension efforts promote collaboration with citizen scientists and allow for coordinated data collection over a broad geographic area within a relatively short period, aimed to assist policy makers in future management efforts related to this species.

PDF Preview