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Seafood Watch - Seafood Guide
Grouper
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Grouper
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Hapu’u, Mero, Sea Bass
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Northwest Hawaiian Islands
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Wild-caught
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Grouper
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Hapu’u, Mero, Sea Bass
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Main Hawaiian Islands
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Wild-caught
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Groupers
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Sea Bass, Mero, Red Grouper
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U.S. Atlantic, U.S. Gulf of Mexico
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Longline
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Groupers
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 groupers 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
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