Nassau Grouper

Restoring Nassau Grouper Populations

The Situation

Nassau Grouper populations are in decline throughout the Caribbean, primarily due to overfishing.

The Goal

Our goal was to stop, and ideally reverse, the decline of Nassau Grouper populations in The Bahamas by conserving and managing the fishery. We also hoped to set an example that could be followed in areas of the United States and in countries throughout the Caribbean for various species of fish and marine life.

Perry Institute for Marine Science researchers conducted extensive research on the life history of the Nassau Grouper. We identified key habitats for all of its life stages, and documented the decline in spawning aggregation populations and juvenile recruits.

Bahamian officials and policy makers used the information we gathered in 2004 to initiate a new law that closed the Nassau Grouper fishery entirely during the fish's spawning season (December-January). This allowed the Nassau Grouper to reproduce without fishing pressure, and has allowed the species to increase its numbers in The Bahamas.

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