The talk this month is an amalgam of Stories from the Field about Goliath Group (Epinephelus itajara), the largest grouper in the Western Atlantic, and certainly one of the more controversial fishes in Florida waters today. Protected from fishing since 1990 in both the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean, this species is on a positive recovery trajectory in Florida. However, full recovery of Goliath Grouper is hindered by the fact that they are slow to mature, their nursey mangrove habitat is in decline, and they carry significant mercury loads in their tissues that can affect their reproduction and survival. So, bring a curious mind, sit back, and hear the facts and the misconceptions swirling around this wonderful fish
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