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Caymans extend protection of groupers
Cayman Island's ban on fishing grouper has has been extended for a further eight years giving the endangered fish an opportunity to continue their recovery.
Credit: NOAA
Nassau grouper
| Cayman News Service: Groupers live to spawn another day | 12-15-2011
The replenishment of grouper populations is a slow process and the Department of Environment has stated that the continuation of the ban was necessary to ensure that the last viable spawning aggregation site in the Cayman Islands, located in the West End of Little Cayman, did not collapse.
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The grouper holes were first closed in 2003 in what was planned to be alternate years of being open for fishing.
However, the scientists determined that it was mathematically impossible for the population to replenish itself if large numbers of fish, especially the big spawners, were killed.
According to Cayman News Service, the Marine Conservation Board therefore imposed an eight year ban on all grouper spawning sites to give the Nassau grouper a chance to recover, which was due to expire at the end of this year.
However, the numbers of spawning groupers have grown only by about 1500 fish. The average size is dropping and they are seeing more of the younger “teenage” fish, though there are still the larger fish, who, scientists have found, are needed to guide the younger fish to the spawning aggregation site.
Primary source â–ş Cayman News Service: Groupers live to spawn another day
Further reading â–ş
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