Atlantic goliath grouper

The Atlantic goliath grouper was historically referred to as the "jewfish", and there are several theories as to the name's origin. A 1996 review of the term's history from its first recorded usage in 1697 concluded that the species' physical characteristics were frequently connected to "mainstay caricatures of anti-Semitic beliefs", whereas the interpretation that the fish was regarded as kosher food had little support.{{cite journal|last1=Gould|first1=R.G.|last2=Atz|first2=J.W.|year=1996|title=The trouble with "jewfish" or what's in a name|journal=Tropical Fish Hobbyist|volume=44|issue=12|pages=172–182}} Alternate explanations include derivation from the Italian word "giupesce", which means "bottom fish", or mispronunciation of the name "jawfish".{{Cite web|title=How the Jewfish Got Its Name|url=https://www.jta.org/jewniverse/2015/how-the-jewfish-got-its-name|access-date=2021-10-04|website=Jewish Telegraphic Agency|language=en-US}} In 1927, the New York Aquarium changed the fish's name to Junefish after protests.The Jewish Tribune, Aug. 5, 1927, p. 31 In 2001, the American Fisheries Society changed the name to "goliath grouper" after complaints that the nickname was culturally insensitive.{{cite journal|last1=Espinosa|first1=H.|last2=Findley|first2=L. T.|last3=Lea|first3=R. N.|last4=Williams|first4=J. D.|title=Recommended change in the common name for a marine fish: Goliath grouper to replace jewfish (Epinephelus itajara)|journal=Fisheries Magazine |publisher=American Fisheries Society|date=May 2001|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/299040630}}

Image:AtlanticGoliathGrouper.jpg

The Atlantic goliath grouper can grow to lengths of {{convert|2.5|m|ft|frac=2|abbr=off|sp=us}} and weigh up to {{convert|363|kg|lb|abbr=off}}.{{Cite web|date=2017-05-11|title=Epinephelus itajara|url=https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/discover-fish/species-profiles/epinephelus-itajara/|access-date=2021-10-04|website=Florida Museum|language=en-US}} The species ranges in coloration from brownish yellow to grey to greenish and has small black dots on the head, body and fins. Individuals less than {{convert|1|m|ft|0|abbr=off|sp=us}} in length have three to four faint vertical bars present on their sides. The species has an elongate body with a broad, flat head and small eyes. The lower jaw has 3 to 5 rows of teeth with no front canines. The scales are ctenoid. The dorsal fins are continuous with the rays of the soft dorsal fin being longer than the spines of the first dorsal fin. The pectoral fins are rounded and notably larger than the pelvic fins. The caudal fin is also rounded. The species typically preys on slow moving fish and crustaceans.{{Cite journal|last1=Artero|first1=C|last2=Koenig|first2=CC|last3=Richard|first3=P|last4=Berzins|first4=R|last5=Guillou|first5=G|last6=Bouchon|first6=C|last7=Lampert|first7=L|date=2015-04-15|title=Ontogenetic dietary and habitat shifts in goliath grouper Epinephelus itajara from French Guiana|journal=Endangered Species Research|volume=27|issue=2|pages=155–168|doi=10.3354/esr00661 |doi-access=free}}

Adult individuals are typically found in rocky reefs, wrecks, artificial reefs, and oil platforms. The species can also be found in coral reef habitats, but are much more abundant in rocky reef environments.{{Cite journal|last1=Bueno|first1=L. S.|last2=Bertoncini|first2=A. A.|last3=Koenig|first3=C. C.|last4=Coleman|first4=F. C.|last5=Freitas|first5=M. O.|last6=Leite|first6=J. R.|last7=De Souza|first7=T. F.|last8=Hostim-Silva|first8=M.|date=2016-06-06|title=Evidence for spawning aggregations of the endangered Atlantic goliath grouper Epinephelus itajara in southern Brazil|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jfb.13028|journal=Journal of Fish Biology|volume=89|issue=1|pages=876–889|doi=10.1111/jfb.13028 |pmid=27264779 |bibcode=2016JFBio..89..876B |url-access=subscription}} Juveniles mainly inhabit mangrove environments, but can also be found in holes and under ledges of swift tidal creeks that drain mangroves.{{Cite journal|last1=Bullock|first1=Lewis H.|last2=Godcharles|first2=Mark F.|date=1982-07-01|title=Range Extensions for Four Sea Basses (Pisces: Serranidae) from the Eastern Gulf of Mexico with a Color Note on Hemanthias leptus (Ginsburg)|journal=Northeast Gulf Science|volume=5|issue=2|doi=10.18785/negs.0502.06 |doi-access=free}} Mangroves serve as an essential nursery habitat for the Atlantic goliath grouper and provide specific suitable water conditions to nurture healthy, sustained goliath grouper populations.{{Cite journal|last1=Koenig|first1=Christopher C|last2=Coleman|first2=Felicia C|last3=Kingon|first3=Kelly|date=2011-10-01|title=Pattern of Recovery of the Goliath Grouper Epinephelus itajara Population in the Southeastern US|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.5343/bms.2010.1056|journal=Bulletin of Marine Science|volume=87|issue=4|pages=891–911|doi=10.5343/bms.2010.1056 |url-access=subscription}} Juvenile goliath groupers may remain in mangrove nursery habitats for 5 to 6 years before leaving towards deeper offshore reef habitats at around 1 meter in length.

The Atlantic goliath grouper has a longevity of 37 years and reaches first maturity after 6 years, which leads to an estimated generation length of 21.5 years. The species has been hypothesized to be protogynous hermaphrodites, but this has yet to be confirmed.{{Cite journal|last1=Koenig|first1=Christopher C.|last2=Coleman|first2=Felicia C.|last3=Malinowski|first3=Christopher R.|date=2019-10-04|title=Atlantic Goliath Grouper of Florida: To Fish or Not to Fish|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/fsh.10349|journal=Fisheries|volume=45|issue=1|pages=20–32|doi=10.1002/fsh.10349 |s2cid=202017187 |url-access=subscription}} Males become sexually mature at around {{convert|115|cm|in|sp=us}} in length, and at ages 4–6. Females mature at around {{convert|125|cm|in|sp=us}}, and at ages 6–8.Bullock et al. (1992). [http://fishbull.noaa.gov/902/bullock.pdf Age, Growth, and Reproduction of Jewfish Epinephelus itajara in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico]. U.S. Fishery Bulletin 90 (2):243-249. Retrieved August 21, 2014. The species has relatively small spawning aggregations of less than 150 individuals with no evidence of spawning outside of these aggregations.{{Cite book|last=Sadovy Y.|first=Eklund A.M.|date=1999|title=Synopsis of biological data on the Nassau grouper, Epinephelus striatus (Bloch, 1792) and the Jewfish, E. itajara (Lichtenstein, 1822) |series=NOAA Technical Report NMFS 146, and FAO Fisheries Synopsis 157 }}

Atlantic goliath groupers are highly susceptible to rapid population decline due to overfishing and the exploitation of spawning aggregations. The species has a brief annual larval settlement period, making the species' abundance extremely vulnerable to outside factors such as poor weather conditions.{{Cite journal|last1=Cheung|first1=WWL|last2=Sadovy|first2=Y|last3=Braynen|first3=MT|last4=Gittens|first4=LG|date=2013-02-22|title=Are the last remaining Nassau grouper Epinephelus striatus fisheries sustainable? Status quo in the Bahamas|journal=Endangered Species Research|volume=20|issue=1|pages=27–39|doi=10.3354/esr00472 |doi-access=free|hdl=10722/190416|hdl-access=free}} High mercury concentrations in older males may lead to liver damage and/or death and reduce egg viability.{{Cite journal|last1=Evers|first1=DC|last2=Graham|first2=RT|last3=Perkins|first3=CR|last4=Michener|first4=R|last5=Divoll|first5=T|date=2009-07-01|title=Mercury concentrations in the goliath grouper of Belize: an anthropogenic stressor of concern|journal=Endangered Species Research|volume=7|pages=249–256|doi=10.3354/esr00158 |doi-access=free}} The degradation of mangroves, which serve as an important nursery habitat for the species provide a major threat to juvenile survival. The species was previously classified as critically endangered in 2011 and is currently classified as vulnerable in 2021. A 2016 stock assessment model indicates that there has been an absolute population reduction of around 33% from 1950 to 2014. There has been a complete moratorium on the fishing of this species in continental U.S. waters since 1990 and in U.S. Caribbean waters since 1993.

In October 2021, Florida Fish and Wildlife proposed to allow the fishing of 200 juvenile goliath grouper per year including up to 50 from Everglades National Park. Recreational fishing of the species would be permitted in all state waters except those of Palm Beach County south through the Atlantic coast of the Keys.{{Cite web|title=FWC approves a draft proposal for limited, highly regulated fishing of goliath grouper|url=https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/FLFFWCC/bulletins/2f648bf|access-date=2021-12-06|website=Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission|language=en}} The proposal was approved in March 2022, with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission planning to issue 200 permits per year through a lottery system, which came into effect in the spring of 2023.{{Cite web |date=March 3, 2022 |title=FWC approves limited recreational harvest of goliath grouper in state waters |url=https://myfwc.com/news/all-news/goliath-comm-322/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230226185040/https://myfwc.com/news/all-news/goliath-comm-322/ |archive-date=February 26, 2023 |access-date=2023-02-26 |website=Florida Fish And Wildlife Conservation Commission |language=en}}

Plastic Mero, [[Funchal (2019)|thumb]]

Portuguese street artist Bordalo II creates installations made of trash to highlight over-consumption. His works consisting of animals are created to highlight the destruction of species by waste caused by humans.{{cite web | title=Bordalo II | website=Street Art Bio | date=5 April 2022 | url=https://www.streetartbio.com/artists/bordalo-ii/ | access-date=30 July 2023| format= video (1 min.) + text}} One of his public sculptures is the huge Plastic Mero, created from marine debris and installed in 2019 on the seafront in Funchal, Portugal.{{cite web | title='Plastic Mero' | website=Atlas Obscura | date=5 July 2022 | url=http://www.atlasobscura.com/places/bordalo-ii-plastic-mero | access-date=30 July 2023}}

{{clear}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Commons category|Epinephelus itajara}}

• [http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/Gallery/Descript/GoliathGrouper/GoliathGrouper.html Florida Museum of Natural History description] including alternate names
• {{sealifephotos|159353}}

{{grouper}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q1920243}}

Category:Epinephelus

Category:Fish of the Atlantic Ocean

Category:Fish of Cuba

Category:Fish of the Dominican Republic

Category:Game fish

Category:Fish described in 1822

Category:Taxa named by Hinrich Lichtenstein