Nassau Grouper

Photo: Sara Lovotti · CC BY

Nassau grouper, listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act, find refuge at Buck Island where fishing is entirely prohibited. Their slow reproductive rate and historical targeting during predictable spawning aggregations drove population collapses across the Caribbean, making monument-protected sites like Buck Island critical refugia. Individual fish here grow to impressive sizes exceeding 60 centimetres and display the colour-shifting camouflage from pale tan to dark barred pattern that makes them endlessly fascinating subjects for underwater photographers.