Areolate grouper

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Areolate grouper
Epinephelus areolatus, black background, New Caledonia.jpg
Epinephelus areolatus from off New Caledonia
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Serranidae
Subfamily: Epinephelinae
Tribe: Epinephelini
Genus: Epinephelus
Species:
E. areolatus
Binomial name
Epinephelus areolatus
(Forsskål, 1775)
Synonyms [2]

The areolate grouper (Epinephelus areolatus), also known as the yellowspotted rockcod, areolate rockcod, green-spotted rock-cod, squaretail grouper or squaretail rock-cod, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a grouper from the subfamily Epinephelinae which is part of the family Serranidae, which also includes the anthias and sea basses. It inhabits coral reefs in the Indo-Pacific region. They are produced through aquaculture and commercially fished. They currently face no threats to their survival. [1]

Contents

Description

The areolate grouper is a large fish (up to 47 cm long, 1.4 kg [3] ) that lives near coral reefs. Its coloration is whitish to gray with rounded brownish spots; it is particularly identifiable by a narrow, white, straight margin on its truncate tail. [4] It has 11 dorsal spines, 15-17 dorsal soft rays, 3 anal spines and 8 anal soft rays.

It is often confused with the brownspotted grouper (Epinephelus chlorostigma) found in the Persian Gulf [2] and several other many-spotted species. [4]

Distribution

YearFarmed productionCapture production
Metric tons(Saudi Arabia
1993512in the Indian Ocean)
1994508
1995502
1996750
1997474
1998180
1999110
2000104306
2001239245
2002157289
2003155309
2004155349

The areolate grouper is found in the tropical region ranging from 35°N - 33°S, 29°E - 180°E. [5] They are found in the Indo-Pacific region from the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf to Natal, South Africa and east to Fiji, north to Japan, south to the Arafura Sea and northern Australia. It was recently recorded to have been observed in Tonga, but appears to be absent from areas in the western Indian Ocean. [2] Recently (2015) a single specimen was reported from the Mediterranean Sea, off Israel. [6] [7]

This grouper is usually found in seagrass beds or on fine sediment bottoms near rocky reefs, dead coral, or alcyonarian corals. [5] in shallow continental shelf waters. Juveniles are common at water depths to 80 m (260 ft); eggs and early larvae are probably pelagic.

Reproduction and feeding

Like other groupers, the areolate grouper is a sex-changing species; young are female, and some change to male with maturity. Maturity is reached at a fork length of 22 cm (8.7 in), and spawning usually occurs during the months of May, June, October and December. [8]

After hatching, wild grouper larvae eat copepods and other small zooplankton. [9] Areolate grouper feed on fish and benthic (bottom-dwelling) invertebrates, primarily prawns and crabs. [2]

Commercial production

The areolate grouper is one of about 16 species of groupers commonly raised using aquaculture. [9] Floating net cages, the primary culture method, are supported by a floating frame of plastic pipe, wood, or other material, and usually are anchored to the sea floor. This method is simple, has low capital investment, and uses existing bodies of water, so production can be easily increased or decreased. Disadvantages compared to pond culture include vulnerability to external water quality problems and predators. Also, no control over water temperature, which is known to strongly affect growth rates, is possible. [10]

Grouper consistently demands a high market price, so fishing pressure is intense. To alleviate the pressure on wild grouper stocks, many nations have promoted aquaculture in the hopes of producing a more sustainable grouper yield. Hong Kong is the primary producer of areolate grouper raised by aquaculture, and about 155 metric tons were produced in 2004. [11] Full-cycle culture of most grouper species, including the areolate grouper, is not yet possible, although several important advances have been made in recent years. For this reason, about two-thirds of all grouper culture, including culture of E. areolatus, involves the capture of wild grouper eggs which are then grown out in aquaculture. This is called capture-based aquaculture (CBA). The wild eggs are gathered by a variety of artisanal methods, and because success is not predictable, the production varies as well. [9]

Commercial fishing for areolate grouper done with long lines and hand lines. While its popularity for food has led to some species being threatened, currently no threat to the survival of E. areolatus exists. [1] The table at right shows the amount of areolate grouper produced by farming between 1992 and 2004 and the amount produced by capture in Saudi Arabia (Indian Ocean) between 1996 and 2004, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations [12]

Related Research Articles

<i>Epinephelus</i> Genus of fishes

Epinephelus is a genus of marine ray-finned fish, groupers from the subfamily Epinephelinae, part of the family Serranidae, which also includes the anthias and sea basses. They are predatory fish, largely associated with reefs and are found in tropical and subtropical seas throughout the world. They are important target species for fisheries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brownspotted grouper</span> Species of fish

The brownspotted grouper, also known as the brown spotted reef cod, brown-spotted rockcod, coral grouper or honeycomb cod, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a grouper from the subfamily Epinephelinae which is part of the family Serranidae, which also includes the anthias and sea basses. It has an Indo-Pacific distribution but in the northern Indian Ocean this distribution is discontinuous. It forms part of a species complex with two closely related species in the genus Epinephelus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malabar grouper</span> Species of fish

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greasy grouper</span> Species of fish

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<i>Epinephelus albomarginatus</i> Species of fish

Epinephelus albomarginatus, the white-edged grouper, white-edged rockcod or captain fine, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a grouper from the subfamily Epinephelinae which is part of the family Serranidae, which also includes the anthias and sea basses. It is found in the southwestern Indian Ocean and it is associated with coral reefs. It is a target species for commercial and recreational fisheries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yellow grouper</span> Species of fish

The yellow grouper, also known as the banded grouper, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a grouper from the subfamily Epinephelinae which is part of the family Serranidae, which also includes the anthias and sea basses. It is found in eastern Asian waters of the Western Pacific Ocean. Its natural habitats are shallow seas and rocky reefs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orange-spotted grouper</span> Species of fish

The orange-spotted grouper, also known as the brown-spotted rockcod, estuary cod, estuary rockcod, goldspotted rockcod, greasy cod, North-west groper, orange spotted cod or blue-and-yellow grouper, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a grouper from the subfamily Epinephelinae which is part of the family Serranidae, which also includes the anthias and sea basses. It has an Indo-Pacific distribution and is found in marine and brackish waters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Camouflage grouper</span> Species of fish

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<i>Plectropomus</i> Genus of fishes

Plectropomus, commonly known as the coral groupers, is a genus of marine ray-finned fish, groupers from the subfamily Epinephelinae, part of the family Serranidae, which also includes the anthias and sea basses. They are found in the Indo-Pacific region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Potato grouper</span> Species of fish

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<i>Epinephelus flavocaeruleus</i> Species of fish

Epinephelus flavocaeruleus, commonly called blue-and-yellow grouper, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a grouper from the subfamily Epinephelinae which is part of the family Serranidae, which also includes the anthias and sea basses. It is associated with reefs in the Indian Ocean.

<i>Epinephelus summana</i> Species of fish

Epinephelus summana, the summan grouper, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a grouper from the subfamily Epinephelinae which is part of the family Serranidae, which also includes the anthias and sea basses. It comes from the Eastern Indian Ocean that occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Honeycomb grouper</span> Species of fish

The honeycomb grouper, also known as black-spotted rock-cod, common birdwire rockcod, dwarf spotted rockcod, dwarf-spotted grouper, honeycomb cod, wire-netted reefcod or wire-netting cod, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a grouper from the subfamily Epinephelinae which is part of the family Serranidae, which also includes the anthias and sea basses. It has a wide Indo-Pacific distribution where it is found in coastal and offshore reefs in shallow waters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Longfin grouper</span> Species of fish

The longfin grouper, also known as the longfin rockcod, bar-breasted rock-cod, Gilbert's rock-cod, honeycomb rockcod, spotted groper or wirenet cod, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a grouper from the subfamily Epinephelinae which is part of the family Serranidae, which also includes the anthias and sea basses. It is found in the Western Pacific Ocean.

<i>Epinephelus spilotoceps</i> Species of fish

Epinephelus spilotoceps, the foursaddle grouper or spotty cod, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a grouper from the subfamily Epinephelinae which is part of the family Serranidae, which also includes the anthias and sea basses. It is found in the Indo-Pacific region.

<i>Epinephelus labriformis</i> Species of fish

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<i>Epinephelus ongus</i> Species of fish

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<i>Epinephelus corallicola</i> Species of fish

Epinephelus corallicola, also known as the black-dotted cod, coral cod, coral rockcod or duskyfin grouper, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a grouper from the subfamily Epinephelinae which is part of the family Serranidae, which also includes the anthias and sea basses. It has an Indo-Pacific distribution and is found in marine and brackish waters.

<i>Epinephelus undulosus</i> Species of fish

Epinephelus undulosus, the wavy-lined grouper, brown-lined reefcod, mid-water rockcod, mid-water grouper, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a grouper from the subfamily Epinephelinae which is part of the family Serranidae, which also includes the anthias and sea basses. It has a wide Indo-Pacific distribution. They are produced through aquaculture and commercially fished.

<i>Epinephelus bleekeri</i> Species of fish

Epinephelus bleekeri, the duskytail grouper, Bleeker's grouper or Bleeker's rockcod, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a grouper from the subfamily Epinephelinae which is part of the family Serranidae, which also includes the anthias and sea basses. It is found in the Indo-Pacific region where it is associated with shallow banks.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Nair, R.; To, A. (2018). "Epinephelus areolatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2018: e.T132774A46629518. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T132774A46629518.en . Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2019). "Epinephelus areolatus" in FishBase. December 2019 version.
  3. ↑ Moran, M, Jenke J, Burton C, and Clarke D. 1988 The Western Australian trap and line fishery on the Northwest Shelf. Western Australian Marine Research Laboratories. FIRTA Project 86/28, Final Report. 79 p.
  4. 1 2 Ferrari A and Ferrari A. Diver’s Guide to Reef Life. Nautilus Publishing Sdn. Bhd, Malaysia, 2007. ISBN   983-2731-01-1, p. 149
  5. 1 2 Heemstra, P.C. & J.E. Randall (1993). FAO Species Catalogue. Vol. 16. Groupers of the world (family Serranidae, subfamily Epinephelinae). An annotated and illustrated catalogue of the grouper, rockcod, hind, coral grouper and lyretail species known to date (PDF). FAO Fish. Synopsis. Vol. 125. FAO, Rome. pp. 110–111. ISBN   92-5-103125-8.
  6. ↑ Shevy Bat-Sheva Rothman; Nir Stern; Menachem Goren (2016). "First record of the Indo-Pacific areolate grouper Epinephelus areolatus (Forsskål, 1775) (Perciformes: Epinephelidae) in the Mediterranean Sea". Zootaxa. 4067 (3): 479–483. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.4067.4.7. PMID   27395890.
  7. ↑ Atlas of Exotic Fishes in the Mediterranean Sea (Epinephelus areolatus). 2nd Edition. 2021. 366p. CIESM Publishers, Paris, Monaco.https://ciesm.org/atlas/fishes_2nd_edition/Epinephelus_areolatus.pdf
  8. ↑ Pakoa, K. Vital statistics of marine fishes of Vanuatu. FishByte July–September, 1998 read online
  9. 1 2 3 Tupper, M.; Sheriff, N. 2008. Capture-based aquaculture of groupers. In A. Lovatelli and P.F. Holthus (eds). Capture-based aquaculture. Global overview. FAO Fisheries Technical Paper. No. 508. Rome, FAO. pp. 217–253.
  10. ↑ Australia Department of Primary Industries page on cage aquaculture
  11. ↑ Pillay, TVR, Kutty MN. Aquaculture: principles and practices. Wiley-Blackwell 2005, ISBN   1-4051-0532-1 p. 50
  12. ↑ Halwart M, Soto D, Arthur JR. Cage Aquaculture: regional reviews and global overview. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 2007. ISBN   92-5-105801-6 p. 31; FAO Yearbook 2004: fishery statistics: capture production, Volume 98. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 2006. ISBN   92-5-005515-3 pp. 155,459
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