Abstract

Goliath grouper (Epinephelus itajara) is the largest grouper in the western hemisphere and the dramatic decline of its populations is a major concern of scientists and conservationists. One of the key issues for conservation of this species is the information about its movement patterns, specially its mobility related to marine protected areas boundaries. This research aims to study the movement of Goliath grouper using dart tags in Jardines de la Reina archipelago and its surroundings, where the largest marine reserve of the Caribbean is located. Five individuals were tagged in 2001 and followed until 2003, with 545 recaptures, 541 of them underwater re-sights from the beginning of 2001 until summer 2002 at the tagging site or its surroundings (few hundreds meters away from the tagging site). After July 2002 no Goliath grouper has been underwater re-sighted in Jardines de la Reina diving sites again. In February 2002, one individual was caught 36 km northeast of the tagging site out of the marine reserve. In August 2002 another specimens was caught 77 km southeast of the tagging site out of the marine reserve, while at the same month, but in 2003, two individuals were caught 168 km southeast of the tagging site out of the marine reserve, presumably at a spawning aggregation site. These results and their implications for Goliath grouper conservation are discussed.

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