- REBREATHERS - SPORT DIVERS ... - Stingray Divers

years when Florida State University (FSU) and NMFS’
population study is complete. But now that may not
be the case.
In a meeting slated for August 2007, the FWC, Fish
and Wildlife Research Institute (FWC-FWRI) and the
National Marine Fisheries Service, Southeast Fishery
Science Center (NMFS-SEFSC) are proposing a
joint, collaborative research program directed at
goliath grouper in the tropical Atlantic and eastern
Gulf of Mexico.
At the center of this discussion is a research
proposal that would include the harvest of a limited
number of goliath grouper for scientific purposes.
Over a two-year period, the program would kill an
estimated 800 fish in Florida’s southern Atlantic and
the eastern Gulf of Mexico.
The proposal states that “biological samples
(otoliths, gonad tissue, etc.) collected through this
limited harvest program would be used to augment
our information base on goliath grouper age, growth,
and reproduction, as well as supplement ongoing
studies on feeding habits. However, besides providing
specimens for life history studies, we believe that
development of a State-Federal Cooperative Goliath
Grouper Research Program will improve coordination
of goliath grouper research activities being currently
conducted or planned by scientists at FWC-FWRI,
NMFS, and Florida State University, as well as
facilitate consistent management of this species in
state and federal waters.”
For the most part, all of the tests suggested in this
program could be accomplished without killing the fish
– as has been the case for the past 16 years. So why
kill these fish for no good reason? Many informed
members of the fishing and scientific communities see
this program as nothing more than an appeasement
to specific fishing groups. Especially when the first
listed recommended in this program proposes (in
response to recent public interest in reopening the
fishery) scientific research projects developed under
the Cooperative Goliath Grouper Research Program
(CGGRP) be conducted with the assistance of
commercial and/or recreational fishers (e.g. for the
collection of specimens). Fishers participating in this
program would be required to coordinate activities with
scientists submitting proposals to the CGGRP so their
names can be listed in scientific collection permits
issued by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Commission (for state waters) and/or the National
Marine Fisheries Service (for federal waters).
Florida’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Commission would issue 800 numbered plastic
“harvest tags” (similar to kill tags issued by the FWC
for tarpon) to be distributed to scientists participating
in the CGGRP. What remains vague is how the
collected goliath grouper specimens will be delivered
to scientists facilitating this research program.
On closer examination, one might conclude that
this collection plan is nothing more than a loophole
to allow commercial fishermen to kill the ever-soimportant
large goliaths under the guise of science. If
management of a species, especially one considered
critically endangered throughout its range outside of
US waters by the World Conservation Union (IUCN),
is allowed to be governed by special interest groups
more interested in appeasing their constituency, the
fate of the goliath could be grim. How important is
it for you to see a few big fish next time you’re out
diving on the reef?
Walt Stearns
Editor-in-Chief
Call to Action….
Opposed?
If you’re not in favor of the plan
proposed by the Cooperative
Goliath Grouper Research
Program (CGGRP)...
Write, email or call:
Luiz Barbieri, Researcher
Department for Marine Fisheries
Research
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Commission (FWC)
Fish and Wildlife Research Institute
100 8th Avenue SE
St. Petersburg, FL 33701-5020
Email: Luiz.Barbieri@fwc.state.fl.us.
Alex Chester, Science and
Research Director
Southeast Fisheries Science Center
75 Virginia Beach Drive
Miami, Florida 33149
E mail: alex.chester@noaa.gov
PH: 305-361-4259, ex: 259
www.underwaterjournal.com June/July 2007