Abstract
The age and growth of the Critically Endangered Atlantic goliath grouper Epineph- elus itajara of equatorial French Guiana was determined by a non-lethal aging method using dor- sal fin rays. Goliath grouper deposit 1 complete annulus per year, with the translucent zone of the annulus laid down at the beginning of the dry season (July). Two readers independently applied the method; there was full agreement between the two for 52% of the fish, and agreement of ± 1 yr for 82%. Comparison of ages derived from paired samples of otoliths and fin rays were identical (n = 6). The mean age of goliath grouper was 4.2 yr (range = 1 to 17 yr; n = 229); 82% of the indi- viduals were under the size/age of sexual maturity. Goliath grouper in French Guiana are larger at a given age and reach their asymptotic length (L∞ = 192.3 cm) faster (k = 0.20 yr �1 ) than goliath grouper from the west coast of Florida, USA (L∞ = 200.6 cm, k = 0.126). Total mortality, estimated from a catch curve of the age distribution, was about 0.65 both in the Grand Connetable Island marine protected area in French Guiana (where fishing is prohibited) and outside of the reserve, suggesting that the reserve does not protect goliath grouper from illegal fishing. However, the estimates of total mortality in both fished and protected sites likely includes emigration, because goliath grouper may use rocky sites in French Guiana as a nursery habitat and may not remain there once they mature.
Highlights
Atlantic goliath grouper Epinephelus itajara (Lichtenstein, 1822; Epinephelidae), the largest reef fish in the western Atlantic, inhabits rocky reefs from North Carolina (USA) to southern Brazil, including the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea, and French Guiana (Sadovy & Eklund 1999)
A total of 45 fin Goliath grouper caught inside the boundaries of the marine protected area (MPA) (Fig. 1) ranged in size from 78 to 189 cm total length (TL) (n = 158), with the majority of fish between 80 and 159 cm in length (Fig. 2)
Fish captured in areas outside of the MPA ranged between 38 and 203 cm in length (n = 71), most of which were 81 to 152 cm in length (Fig. 2)
Summary
Atlantic goliath grouper Epinephelus itajara (Lichtenstein, 1822; Epinephelidae), the largest reef fish in the western Atlantic, inhabits rocky reefs from North Carolina (USA) to southern Brazil, including the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea, and French Guiana (Sadovy & Eklund 1999). Listed as Critically Endangered in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (Craig 2011), goliath grouper in French Guiana still supports both recreational and commercial fisheries. The effect of these fisheries on the sustainability of the goliath grouper stock is unknown because there is a lack of landing data and no stock assessment to date. Fishermen have reported a decrease in both the frequency of capture and total length of goliath grouper, official surveys of commercial landings by the Institut Français de Publisher: Inter-Research · www.int-res.com
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