Episode Description:

Florida's underwater giants are back! After years of over-harvesting, Goliath Grouper have made a noticeable resurgence off of Florida's coasts. Changing Seas joins scientists in the field as they study the life history of these awe-inspiring fish. Their goal is to gain a better understanding of the species and the obstacles it faces on the road to full recovery.

Weighing up to a thousand pounds and reaching seven feet in length, Goliath Grouper, Epinephelus itajara, are the Atlantic Ocean's largest species of fish in the sea bass family. Formerly known as Jewfish, these massive animals used to be a common sight in Florida waters and were a constant fixture around shipwrecks, reefs, caves and natural ledges. Years of over-harvesting severely reduced the Goliath's numbers, and in1990 the fishery was closed in U.S. waters. Since then, the species has had time to slowly regenerate in Florida and the fish are once again seen on popular dive sites, especially in the summertime when the animals aggregate to spawn.

But this recovery hasn't been a welcome sight to all – some recreational fishermen believe goliath grouper are devouring popular game fish, and that it is time to re-open the fishery. Scientists, however, have conducted studies on the grouper's diet and determined that their main source of food is crustaceans – and not other groupers and snappers. Researchers say it's too early to re-open the fishery. While they are encouraged by the goliath's recovery in Florida, the fish remain critically endangered throughout the rest of their range.

Changing Seas uncovers the life history of this gigantic fish - and dives in to observe these awesome creatures as they aggregate on what could be newly discovered spawning sites.

Meet the men and women featured in this episode.
Don DeMaria
Christopher C. Koenig, Ph.D.
Felicia C. Coleman, Ph.D.
James Locascio
Tony Grogan
Walt Stearns

Goliath Grouper Biological Profile
The Florida Museum of Natural History website provides general information on Goliath Grouper.

Lord of the Rocks
An article written by Jean Michel Cousteau, which briefly describes the life history of Florida's resilient fish, Goliath Grouper.

Underwater Journal: Goliath Grouper
An article on Goliath Grouper, providing information on the fish's life history, ecological characteristics and threats for survival.

Discovery of Sound in the Sea
Information about underwater ocean sounds, including the science, technology, scientists, and animals associated with it.

University of South Florida Mann Laboratory
Under the guidance of Dr. David Mann, the Marine Sensory Biology laboratory focuses on hearing and sound production in fishes and marine mammals.

Miami Dive Stop
16604 NE 2nd Ave
N. Miami Beach, FL 33162
(305) 940-0927

Emerald Charters
Jupiter, FL
(561) 248-8332

Parmer's Resort
565 Barry Ave
MM 28.5
Little Torch Key, FL 33042
(305) 872-2157

Best Western Wakulla Inn and Suites
3292 Coastal Highway 98
Crawfordville, FL, 32327
(850) 926-3737

Sleep Inn and Suites
4110 SW 40th Boulevard
Gainesville, FL, US, 32608
(352) 376-4145

Super 8 Motel North Palm Beach
757 US Highway 1
North Palm Beach, FL 33408
(561) 848-1424

Changing Seas would also like to thank the following individuals and institutions who kindly allowed their footage, images, and audio to be used in this production:

Ed Pence
Shark Attack Productions

Tony Grogan
Spearboard.com

Walt Stearns
UnderwaterJournal.com

Chris Martens, Ph.D.
UNC-Chapel Hill
Department of Marine Sciences

State Archives of Florida

Monroe County Public Library
Mile Markers Photo Collection
Dale M. McDonald Photo Collection

Don DeMaria

Chris Koenig, Ph.D.
Florida State University
Coastal and Marine Laboratory

Debra Murie, Ph.D.
University of Florida
Fish and Aquatic Sciences

NASA World Wind

James Locascio
University of South Florida
College of Marine Science