Grouper

Grouper may contain levels of mercury that pose a health risk to adults and children. 

Grouper populations are almost universally in decline. It is estimated that the Nassau grouper population has sustained a decline of 60% over the last three generations (27-30 years). Its populations are overfished and overfishing is occurring in the Caribbean, and U.S. fishery management councils have now banned fishing for Nassau grouper. Red grouper population numbers have fluctuated over time, with peak abundance occurring during the 1940s or 1950s. Red grouper is overfished, with continuing overexploitation in the South Atlantic. Although populations have rebounded in the Gulf of Mexico, the biomass is still only at 86 percent of its target level. Gag grouper is only at 40 percent of the target population in the Gulf of Mexico, and overfishing continues to occur. In the South Atlantic, stocks are healthy, but it continues to be overexploited. Grouper are a long-lived and slow-growing fish that do not reproduce until later in life, making their recovery from overfishing a challenge.^,,  Dependent on gear type, there can be a number of non-target fish and other wildlife, like sea turtles, caught as bycatch when fishing for grouper.