Nassau grouper

Photo: Sara Lovotti · CC BY

Nassau grouper are among the most iconic and critically endangered fish of the Caribbean. Once numbering in the millions, targeted spearfishing of their spawning aggregations — where thousands gather predictably at specific reef sites — devastated populations across the region. Remaining populations at unprotected sites like Dog Island represent some of the last sizable aggregations. Solitary ambush predators by nature, they are intelligent fish capable of changing sex from female to male. Their recovery is ecologically critical as keystone reef predators controlling populations of herbivore competitors.