Coral Grouper

Photo: Ian Shaw · © all rights reserved

Coral grouper are everywhere in Mwahnd Passage, their vivid red-orange bodies dotted with blue spots appearing on every coral head from the shallowest lagoon edge to the deepest sections of the outer wall. They are among the most reliable and photogenic fish at the site, sitting motionless on exposed coral surfaces and tolerating close approach if divers descend slowly. The abundance of grouper across multiple size classes indicates a well-structured predator population that has not been subject to the size-selective fishing that removes the largest individuals first.