Atlantic goliath grouper

Description

Epinephelus itajara,popularly known as grouper,black grouper,canapu and canapuguaçu,is a fish belonging to the Serranid family.It represents,together with groupers,chernes and whiting,one of the largest species of marine fish,which can reach 250 kilograms to over 400 kilograms and measure up to almost 3 meters.These fish are extremely susceptible to capture,because they have the habit of aggregating themselves for breeding,fearless behavior towards the human being and impressive size,which have earned it high commercial and sport value when captured by submarine hunters.These characteristics,associated to a long period of generation,with slow population growth rate and late sexual maturation,from 60 kilograms,resulted in a serious risk of extinction of the species,which does not have a natural predator.They are found in slabs,estuaries and mangroves,as well as in shipwrecks and even on platforms,frequenting sites with rock bottoms and large burrows and occurring all over the Brazilian coast.