ECOSUR’s Giant Grouper Rescue Plan in Quintana Roo

Quintana Roo, Mexico — The Goliath Grouper (Epinephelus itajara), a fish of great traditional and ecological value, is on the brink of scarcity in the Yucatan Peninsula. This outlook has motivated researchers from El Colegio de la Frontera Sur (Ecosur) to launch an ambitious recovery project that transcends national borders, as it is being developed not only in the region but also in Cuba, where the species is under a permanent fishing ban, as well as in Guatemala.

According to Eloy Sosa Cordero, a researcher at Ecosur, while the fish reached its historical maximum catch of 440 tons in 1985, its decline has been inevitable up to the present day, where catching a Goliath Grouper is now front-page news. The researcher stated that the "giant of the groupers," a species with a great tradition, particularly in the state of Yucatan, as well as in Campeche and Quintana Roo, can see some specimens reach 2 meters in length and a weight of up to 350 kilograms.

“What was once a common dish in markets like the one in Chetumal is today a rarity, an event so sporadic that it becomes newspaper news,” he explained. “Its drastic decline is attributed to the fact it is a species very vulnerable to fishing due to its slow growth and the delay in its population recovery.”

The scholar mentioned that historical data reflects its rapid decline after reaching its catch peak in the 1980s. In Yucatan and Quintana Roo from 1980-1982, the catches were 29 and 20 tons, respectively; however, in Campeche, it reached a peak of 440 tons in 1985. From then to date, its decline was inevitable.

“Overfishing probably occurred without adequate information on the vulnerability of the species, but now the goal is to reverse this situation,” he emphasized.

A Regional and Collaborative Approach

Aware that the decline of the Goliath Grouper is a problem shared by neighboring countries, the Ecosur project has adopted a regional and international approach, combining efforts with Belize and Cuba, nations facing the same issue. “In fact, in Cuba, the capture of the Goliath Grouper is already prohibited, an indicator of the level of scarcity it suffers,” Sosa Cordero noted.

However, the central and differentiating axis of this initiative is direct collaboration with fishing communities, a lesson learned from the failures of top-down policies.

"We are so aware that the community is tired of so many fishing bans and prohibitions that this project, from the beginning, wants to integrate the community, to have their voices heard, for it not to be an imposition," stated the researcher. "If they are not convinced, nothing will be done."

The strategy is based on persuading the fishermen themselves, who live off the resource, to voluntarily adopt measures for the recovery of this species, which, according to those who have tried it, has exquisite meat.

Economic Alternatives and Community Involvement

One of the ideas being explored in conjunction with communities from the three states is the creation of economic alternatives linked to conservation, such as Goliath Grouper watching tourism.

“The Goliath Grouper is a noble and docile animal; diving or snorkeling to see these huge fish could become a high-value activity, a model that allows communities to obtain income while promoting the protection of the species,” indicated the researcher.

The initial plan contemplates working with three or four select communities from each state of the Yucatan Peninsula, seeking success stories that serve to convince and gradually expand the project to other communities.

“The goal is clear: to ensure that new generations can get to know, and even taste the Goliath Grouper again, achieving that the fisherman takes care of his resource and breaks the downward trend that affects many valuable species like the grouper, the snook, and the wrasse,” concluded the interviewee.