[Coral-List] Goliaths in National Public Radio Fw: Proposed Killing of Goliath Grouper

[Sarah Frias-Torres]

As a follow-up to my previous email, here is a 3-minute summary from National Public Radio, both text and audio files. It is interesting how concepts of shifting baselines, trophy fishing, and dynamics of an endangered species are all combined in this brief news update.

Please, consider providing a comment to FWC by October 1 and ask them to reject the proposed killing of Goliath Grouper (instructions in my previous email; see below) and/or attend the meeting if possible on October 6.

NPR: Florida Wants To Give Fishermen Another Go At The Great Big Goliath Grouper
https://www.npr.org/2021/09/24/1039321982/goliath-grouper-florida-conservation-fishing



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Sarah Frias-Torres, Ph.D.
Twitter: @GrouperDoc
Science Blog: https://grouperluna.com/
Art Blog: https://oceanbestiary.com/


________________________________
From: Sarah Frias-Torres
Sent: Thursday, September 23, 2021 7:38 PM
To: coral list <coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov>
Subject: Proposed Killing of Goliath Grouper

To fellow Coral-Listers with a SCUBA diving inclination and/or a conservation interest.


ACTION REQUEST:

I’m reaching out to you as a fellow SCUBA diver and a scientist doing research on the endangered Goliath Grouper. On October 6, 2021 Commissioners of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) will vote on a proposal to kill Goliath Grouper.

What is proposed: Killing 200 Goliath Grouper per year, 20 – 36 in., or 50 – 91 cm length, for an unknown number of years. These are juveniles in mangroves. If they were to reach adult size, it will be akin to the extermination of 4 spawning aggregations per year. The fishing pressure will be concentrated in the only two red mangrove nursery habitats left in Florida: Ten Thousand Islands, and the Florida Bay side of the Florida Keys. The ongoing collapse of the Indian River Lagoon system and widespread habitat degradation in Florida result in any other mangrove stands unsuitable as habitat for juvenile Goliath Grouper. Even in the habitat left, mass mortality events are common, such as the 2010 event that killed 90 % of all the juveniles.

What is the science to support this killing: There is no scientific evidence to support such killing. The 1990 federal and state moratorium on harvest must remain, because the species is still endangered. The species must be managed for conservation. A live Goliath Grouper generates more money through dive ecotourism than a dead one.

Why is this relevant for the SCUBA diving community: Every juvenile Goliath Grouper killed will not grow up to become adults in the reef, and will not be enjoyed by SCUBA divers. The voice of SCUBA divers and SCUBA diving businesses is usually ignored at these meetings. To note, the meeting is held, in person (no virtual option) in St. Augustine, far from the communities that benefit from the income Goliath Groupers generate for SCUBA diving businesses.

What you can do: Speak up for the Goliath Groupers

1)     Attend the FWC public meeting and give your comment in person on October 6 (see agenda item #6)

https://myfwc.com/about/commission/commission-meetings/october-2021/

2)     Write to FWC Commissioners (whether or not you can attend in person): tell them to reject the take proposal, and why. Post comment by October 1.

https://myfwc.com/contact/fwc-office/senior-staff/commissioners/

3)     Amplify: share this message through your network, and ask them to take action.

Thanks

If you need some inspiration for your written or in-person comments, here is a short film all about Goliath Groupers

 https://vimeo.com/262453693

And a review paper with scientific evidence to continue protection of this species through the 1990 state and federal moratorium on harvest.

https://marinelab.fsu.edu/media/3878/2020_koenig_et-al_goliathgroupe-fisheries_distrib.pdf


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Sarah Frias-Torres, Ph.D.
Twitter: @GrouperDoc
Science Blog: https://grouperluna.com/
Art Blog: https://oceanbestiary.com/