Goliath Grouper Projects That Are Ongoing Or Were Initiated After the Data Workshop for SEDAR 23 (Held April 26 – 29, 2010)

Goliath Grouper Research Summary - 1 -

Table 1. A list of Goliath Grouper projects that are ongoing or were initiated after the data workshop for SEDAR 23 (held April 26 – 29, 2010). Projects are listed in order of their initiation.

Institution Principal Project name Start – Types of data collected Geographic Results available? Investigators End region FWRI Adams, D Opportunistic sampling of 2006 – Life history and fish health Statewide (FL) Yes: Bakenhaster, M Goliath Grouper during present information. Sporadic mortality response to fish -Adams et al., Collins, A mortality events events allowed at least for the kills; majority of 2013 for Hg Seyoum, S sampling of otoliths, fin rays, and samples results. Tringali, M meristics. If sample is in good collected from -Seyoum et al., condition, gonads and tissue for central and 2013 for initial fish health and Hg analyses are southwest FL. DNA marker also collected. Since 2006, 84 GG characterization have provided ages through -Informal working otoliths; 32 gonads were suitable document from for histology and verification of SEDAR 23 (Collins sex. Mercury analyses (Adams et and Barbieri 2010) al., 2013) and initial characterization of DNA markers (Seyoum et al., 2013) have been completed. FWRI Collins, A Population structure of 2006 – Fin clips for genetic analyses Atlantic: most No: Seyoum, S Goliath grouper in Florida 2013 from Jupiter Although sampling Tringali, M spaggs is complete, analyses continue FSU Koenig, C GoMex: central and ms is still in and southwest early prep FL. Jupiter Dive Phelan, M Goliath Grouper Aggregation 2008 – Diver surveys collected Atlantic: Yes: Center Monitoring Report 2012 abundance information, size SE FL Informal reports Jupiter, Florida USA estimates, and behavioral Jupiter prepared by PI are observations for artificial and available through natural reefs near Jupiter, FL. 2011. Surveys focused on aggregation periods during the spawning season, but observations are available throughout the year. Goliath Grouper Research Summary - 2 -

Facility Principal Project name Start – Types of data collected Geographic Results available? Investigators End region FWRI Collins, A Behavior, Habitat, and 2007 – Abundance and size distribution GoMex: Yes: Barbieri, L Abundance of the Goliath 2010* for artificial and natural reefs. Central west -Collins, 2009 Grouper, Epinephelus Repeated seasonal surveys at 18 Florida (Tampa presents itajara, in the Central of these sites 2007 – 2010. Bay to Middle preliminary Eastern Gulf of Mexico *12 of the shipwrecks surveyed Grounds) results. (NA07NMF4540085) during this project continued to -Collins and be surveyed at least seasonally Barbieri, 2010 (but most monthly) through (Final report to 2013. NOAA) Collins, 2014 (PhD dissertation) -One additional ms is in review with BMS. FSU Koenig, C The recovering goliath 2010 – age structure using fin rays; Atlantic: Yes: Coleman, F grouper population of the 2013 identification of spawning SE FL -Koenig and southeastern US: non- migrations through tagging; egg Coleman, 2013 consumptive investigations collection to verify spawning GoMex: SW FL (Final report to for stock assessment aggregations; gonad biopsies to NOAA) (NA10NMF4330123) identify mating system, sex ratio; spawning behavior; trophic patterns using non-lethal stomach content extraction and stable isotope analyses FWRI Collins, A An evaluation of the effects 2010 – Telemetry data (survival, GoMex: Yes: Barbieri, L of catch and release angling 2014 residence time, movements and Central west -Collins, 2014 (PhD on survival and behavior of position within the water Florida (to 40 dissertation) goliath grouper column) for 44 goliath grouper, miles offshore of -Collins and (Epinephelus itajara) with caught using hand line or rod and Tampa Bay) Barbieri, 2014 additional investigation into reel from depths 10 - 40 m; (Final report to residence and long-term Abundance and size distribution NOAA available movement patterns through repeated (monthly or August 2014) (NA10NMF4330115) seasonal) surveys at 12 -2 additional ms shipwrecks in eastern Gulf of are in prep Mexico. Goliath Grouper Research Summary - 3 -

Facility Principal Project name Start – Types of data collected Geographic Results available? Investigators End region U. of West Artero, C Biology and ecology of Giant 2010 – Age and growth, reproductive, Atlantic: No: Indies and (PhD student, Grouper Epinephelus itajara 2014* trophic patterns (non-lethal S. America 2 ms in review, French Guiana advised by , French Guiana. methods) and abundance, French Guiana contact author for C.Bouchon , *funding relative to age information. C. Koenig) dependent FWRI Collins, A Great Goliath Grouper 2010 – annual 'snapshot' survey of GG Initially Yes: Count present abundance and size distribution restricted to Informal yearly Florida Fluech, B at designated artificial reefs. Uses GoMex: central summaries are SeaGrant volunteer stakeholders and and southwest available from scientists to collect data during a coasts of FL; either PI 1 -2 week period at the beginning Expanding each of June. year to include additional sites on WFL shelf as well as the FL Keys and the east coast of FL. FSU Koenig, C Regional age structure, 2011 – age structure (fin rays); Atlantic: SE FL No: final report Coleman, F reproductive biology and 2015 reproductive biology (gonad GoMex: SW FL due to NOAA in USF Stallings, C trophic patterns of adult biopsies and histology); trophic 2015 Tzadik, O goliath grouper in Florida structure (non-lethal stomach UF Murie, D (NA11NMF4330123) content removal); movement patterns (conventional and acoustic tags on fish in spawning aggregations; FACT array allows for detailed long distance movement data for fish with acoustic tags; estimates of abundance at spawning aggregations off of the east coast (visual surveys); tracing adults back to juvenile habitats using stable isotopes from fin ray sections Goliath Grouper Research Summary - 4 -

Facility Principal Project name Start – Types of data collected Geographic Results available? Investigators End region Universidade Bueno, L Biology of the endangered 2011 – Visual surveys of abundance, life Atlantic: No: Federal do (PhD student, Goliath Grouper in southern 2014 history info (?) S. America 2 ms in review, Espírito Santo, advised by H. Brazil Brazil contact author for Brazil Silva, C. Koenig) information. UF Lorenzen, K Goliath grouper 2012 – analysis of overall stakeholder Atlantic and Yes: management stakeholder 2013 opinion regarding Goliath GoMex: Lorenzen et al., project grouper in Florida Statewide survey 2013 of stakeholders throughout Florida REEF Many Fish Survey Ongoing Visual surveys by volunteers FL and Caribbean See REEF.org Reef since provide abundance data website Environmental 1990s throughout the state of Florida Education Foundation

Publications directly related to Goliath Grouper available after April 2010:

Adams, DA and Sonne, C. 2013. Mercury and histopathology of the vulnerable goliath grouper, Epinephelus itajara, in U.S. waters: A multi-tissue approach. Environmental Research 126: 254 – 263.

Collins, A.B. and Barbieri, L.R. 2010. Behavior, Habitat, and Abundance of the Goliath Grouper, Epinephelus itajara, in the Central Eastern Gulf of Mexico. NOAA/NMFS Final Report # NA07NMF4540085. 44 pp.

Collins, A.B. 2014. An Investigation into the Habitat, Behavior and Opportunistic Feeding Strategies of the Protected Goliath Grouper (Epinephelus itajara). PhD Dissertation, University of South Florida. Tampa, Florida. 185 pp.

Frias-Torres S. 2012. Should the critically endangered Goliath Grouper Epinephelus itajara be culled in Florida? Oryx Available on CJO doi:10.1017/S0030605312000361

Garcia, L.N., Sierra, C.L., Perez, J., Esquivel, F., Chapman, F.A. 2013. Osmoregulation of juvenile marine goliath grouper (Epinephelus itajara) in low-salinity water. Revista colombiana de ciencias pecuarias 26: 127 – 135. Goliath Grouper Research Summary - 5 -

Koenig CC, Coleman FC, Kingon K. 2011. Pattern of recovery of the Goliath Grouper Epinephelus itajara population in the southeastern US. Bulletin of Marine Science 87: 891-911.

Koenig CC and Coleman FC. 2013. The recovering goliath grouper population of the southeastern US: non-consumptive investigations for stock assessment. MARFIN Project (NA10NMF4330123) NOAA/NMFS Final Report. 70 pp.

Lorenzen K., Sutt, J., Hazell, J., Fluech, B., and Monroe, M. 2013. Stakeholder Perspectives on Goliath Grouper Management: Overview Report. 21 pp. (http://www.aquaticresources.org/pubs/Goliath_Grouper_%20Stakeholder_Perspectives_Overview.pdf)

Phelan, M.J. 2011. Goliath Grouper Aggregation Monitoring Report Jupiter, Florida USA. 21 pp. (FWC has copies of this informal document)

Seyoum, S., Tringali, M.D., Barthel, B.L., Puchulutegui, C., Davis, M.C., Collins, A.B. and Craig, M.T. 2013. Isolation and characterization of 29 polymorphic microsatellite markers for the endangered Atlantic goliath grouper (Epinephelus itajara), and the Pacific goliath grouper (E. quinquefasciatus). Conservation Genetics Resources 5: 4pp.

Torres, R. et al. 2013. DNA barcoding approaches for fishing authentication of exploited grouper species including the endangered and legally protected goliath grouper Epinephelus itajara. Scientia Marina 77: 409 – 418.