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Seafood Watch - Seafood Guide

Grouper

SEAFOOD	RATING	MARKET NAMES	WHERE CAUGHT	HOW CAUGHT
Grouper		Hapu’u, Mero, Sea Bass	Northwest Hawaiian Islands	Wild-caught
Grouper		Sea Bass, Mero, Red Grouper	U.S. Atlantic, U.S. Gulf of Mexico	Longline
Grouper		Hapu’u, Mero, Sea Bass	Main Hawaiian Islands	Wild-caught

Grouper

Most grouper populations have either been overfished or have unknown status.

Consumer Note

Grouper is available fresh or frozen year-round. Grouper is often sold as sea bass and mero, or by the Hawaiian names, hapu’u or hapu`upu`u.

Health Alert

Environmental Defense Fund has issued a health advisory for grouper due to high levels of mercury.

Summary

There are more than 85 species of grouper worldwide. Grouper is relatively long-lived (up to 40 years) and reproduce for only a short period of time, making them especially vulnerable to overfishing. Many grouper species are considered overfished, and though management is working to make improvements, overfishing still occurs.

The U.S. grouper fishery is concentrated in the Gulf of Mexico, just west of Florida state waters. Accidental bycatch

in this fishery often includes juvenile groupers and other species of grouper protected by law.

In Hawaii, local grouper species are is also vulnerable to overfishing; populations are lower around the main Hawaiian Islands, but more abundant around the northwestern Hawaiian Islands. In 2006, the northwestern Hawaiian Islands became a National Monument, which means that all fishing will end by 2011.

Recipe Alternatives
Alaska pollock and rainbow trout (farmed) are "Best Choices."

Scientific Reports About Our Ratings

Grouper Seafood Watch Report
Hawaiian Grouper Seafood Watch Report

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