FaunaHub
VUVulnerablePartial review

Atlantic Goliath Grouper

Epinephelus itajara

Atlantic goliath grouper (Epinephelus itajara), a massive reef fish.

Atlantic goliath grouper (Epinephelus itajara).

Image: Dan Schofield, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

At a glance

IUCN category
VU · Vulnerable
Animal group
Fish
Population trend
Increasing
Last verified

Conservation overview

The Atlantic goliath grouper is a massive reef fish that can exceed two metres and several hundred kilograms. It is assessed as Vulnerable, recovering under fishing bans.

Juveniles depend on mangrove nurseries.

Range & habitat

Warm coastal waters of the western Atlantic.

Major threats

Threats below are drawn from the authoritative sources listed on this page. For the current, complete assessment, see the IUCN Red List.

  • Past severe overfishing
  • Habitat loss (mangroves)
  • Slow maturation

Why it matters

A giant reef predator hammered by spearfishing and now slowly recovering under protection, the goliath grouper is a flagship for reef and mangrove conservation.

Down-listed from Critically Endangered to Vulnerable in 2018.

Gallery

A goliath grouper near the seabed.

Atlantic goliath grouper (Epinephelus itajara).

Image: Dan Schofield, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Sources

Sources for Atlantic Goliath Grouper

Frequently Asked Questions

How big is the Atlantic goliath grouper?
It is one of the largest groupers, able to exceed two metres in length and several hundred kilograms — large enough to swallow sizable prey whole.
Why is it Vulnerable rather than worse now?
Published assessments note that fishing bans have helped numbers recover from severe overfishing, though it remains threatened by mangrove loss and its slow maturation. See the IUCN Red List.

Last updated: