Resource Library – Big Fish Initiative

Long-lived Reef Fishes: The Grouper-Snapper Complex (Scientific Paper)

Inheriting wisdom: transfer of traditional, scientific, and ecological knowledge in fishing communities in Mexico (Scientific Paper)

Evidence for protection of targeted reef fish on the largest marine reserve in the Caribbean (Scientific Paper)

Fishing Regulations Turks and Caicos Islands (Infographic)

Loss of suitable ocean habitat and phenological shifts among grouper and snapper spawning aggregations in the Greater Caribbean under climate change (Scientific Paper)

Diel movements and space use of Lutjanus analis at a spawning aggregation site, examined to evaluate the efficacy of a seasonal closed area for management (Scientific Paper)

Hábitats Esenciales para los Peces (Espanol)

Series educativas sobre los hábitats de los peces, como los Fondos Lodo y Arena, Estuarios, Columna de Agua, Arrecife de Coral y guía sobre consumo sostenible.

Session 1: Fish Spawning Aggregations and Fishers’ Knowledge

Summary: Welcome! This session provides an introduction and overview of the workshop focusing on examples of where fishers’ knowledge (FK) and leadership have led to fish spawning aggregation (FSA) conservation…

Session 2: Spawning Aggregation Ecology: Snappers and Associated Families

Summary: This session provides overviews of the six families and over 560 species in the SSG SG in terms of biology and spawning aggregations. These species can use habitats from…

Session 3: Applied Research – Designing Your Approach

Summary: In this session, we cover some of the practical “how to questions” for FSA research and provide guidance on designing research and conservation programs for FSAs. Fishers’ can play…

Session 4: Policy and Management Actions & The Role of Fisher Knowledge

Summary: In this session, we consider the why, what, and how of fishers’ knowledge (FK) and its application to fisheries policy and management using examples of best practices. We assess…

Grouper and Spawning Aggregations (Book)

La Cherna A Contrarreloj (Video)

Este cortometraje celebra a un gran pez, que es vital para la salud de los arrecifes del Gran Caribe y, es alimento clave para la población local: el mero cherna,…

Nassau Grouper Against the Clock (Video)

This short-film is a call to action to protect the critically endangered Nassau Grouper, a vital species for the health of Caribbean reefs, and a key food for local people.…

Le Mérou de Nassau Course Contre la Montre (Video)

Ce court métrage est un appel à l'action pour protéger le mérou de Nassau, une espèce en danger critique d'extinction, vitale pour la santé des récifs des Caraïbes et un…

Pêchez Intelligemment (Video)

Ce film est un appel à l'action lancé par les pêcheurs à leurs collègues dans la région élargie des Caraïbes. Il montre le comportement fascinant des espèces qui se rassemblent…

Pesca Inteligente: Consejo de Pescador a Pescador (Video)

Pesca Inteligente es un video de cuatro minutos para la comunidad pesquera del Caribe. Es una llamada a la acción –de pescador a pescador- a liderar el proceso de recuperación…

Fish Smart: Fisher to Fisher Advice (Video)

This 4-min film is a call to action from fishers to their colleagues in the Wider Caribbean. It includes the behavior of fish spawning aggregations, and the reasons why it’s…

Grouper’s Dilemma (Comic)

A Glimpse of the Future (Comic)

The Good Fisher (Comic)

Respect Closed Seasons (Comic)

Biophysical connectivity of snapper spawning aggregations and marine protected area management alternatives in Cuba (Scientific Paper)

Historical Processes and Contemporary Anthropogenic Activities Influence Genetic Population Dynamics of Nassau Grouper within The Bahamas (Scientific Paper)

Mainstream Fish Spawning Aggregations into Fishery Management Calls for a Precautionary Approach (Scientific Paper)

The Secret Language of Nassau Grouper – Podcast

https://open.spotify.com/episode/2jTapnXB5j1EoBVzy8i53x?si=sgMm9eTiStaoAPCtxMzzGQ Narrator Leah Eneas guides the audience through the natural history of Nassau grouper, emphasizing their unique reproductive behavior. This podcast relies on underwater acoustics ---fish calls of courtship and…

Fish Smart – Podcast

https://open.spotify.com/episode/5gcGhSi8Cmb26vbUiwimjl?si=DuGyfmmbQnSatuBnFA3iKw Dive into a conversation between fishers and managers as they connect the dots for what’s at stake, the benefits of protecting spawning aggregations, and the downside of fishing species…

RAD-Seq Analysis and in situ Monitoring of Nassau Grouper Reveal Fine-Scale Population Structure and Origins of Aggregating Fish (Scientific Paper)

Marine Conservation Outcomes are More Likely when Fishers Participate as Citzien Scientists: Case Studies from the Mexican Mesoamerican Reef (Scientific Paper)

Institutional amnesia pushes fish spawning aggregations towards extirpation (Scientific Paper)

Status Report World’s Fish Aggregations (Scientific Paper)

Reef Fish Spawning Aggregations in the Western Indian Ocean: Research for Management (Scientific Paper)

Impact of historical warming on marine fisheries production (Scientific Papers)

Fishery and biological implications of fishing spawning aggregations, and the social and economic importance of aggregating fishes (Scientific Paper)

Fish Spawning Aggregations: Where Well Placed Management Actions Can Yield Big Benefits for Fisheries and Conservation (Scientific Paper)

Benefits of the Paris Agreement to ocean life, economies, and people (Scientific Paper)

A Global Baseline for Spawning Aggregations of Reef Fishes (Scientific Paper)

Acoustic telemetry provides insights for improving conservation and management at spawning aggregation site of the endangered Nassau grouper (Scientific Paper)

Timing and locations of reef fish spawning off the southeastern United States (Scientific Paper)

Let Them Come to You: Reinventing Management of the Snapper-Grouper Complex in the Western Atlantic: A Contribution to the Data Poor Fisheries Management Synopsium (Scientific Paper)

A case for redefining the boundaries of the mesoamerican reef ecoregion (Scientific Paper)

Mesoamerican reef report card / reporte del arricife mesoamericano (Scientific Paper)

Policy Brief on Fish Spawning Aggregations (Scientific Paper)

Biophysial Principles for Designing a Network of Replenishment Zones for the Mesoamerican Reef System (Scientific Paper)

Nassau grouper migration patterns during full moon suggest collapsed historic fish spawning aggregation and evidence of undocumented aggregation (Scientific Paper)

Spatial and temporal dynamics of Nassau grouper fish spawning aggregation located in an isolated seamount in Puerto Rico (Scientific Paper)

In Situ Tagging of Nassau Grouper using closed-circuit rebreathers at spawning aggregation in Puerto Rico (Scientific Paper)

Multiyear Tracking of Nassau Grouper Spawning Migrations (Scientific Paper)

Home range, space use, and vertical distribution of Nassau grouper during non-spawning times in Western Puerto Rico (Scientific Paper)

Researchers track endangered Nassau grouper eggs with underwater microscope (Scientific Paper)

Protecting fish spawning aggregations as self-replenishing reservoirs for regional recovery (Scientific Paper)

Pescador Héroe: Magdiel Efren Naal Kumul

Fisher Hero: Magdiel Efren Naal Kumul

Ciencia de Big Fish

Big Fish Ciencia

Big Fish Science

Big Fish Cientifica Destacada: Krista Sherman

Big Fish Scientist Spotlight: Krista Sherman

Big Fish Cientifica Destacada: Ana Giró Peterson

Big Fish Science: Ana Giró Peterson

Big Fish Science: Nicanor Requena

Qué Saber: Designación de Hábitat Crítico del Mero Cherna de la NOAA

What do Know: NOAA’s Nassau Grouper Critical Habitat Designation

Sobrepesca de Reclutamiento

Alternative Species to Consume

El Ciclo de Vida del Mero Cherna

Life Cycle of Nassau Grouper

Las Presas del Pargo Criollo

Mutton Snapper’s Prey

Pesca legal, No Declarada, No Reglamentada

Illegal, Unregulated, Unreported (IUU) Fishing

Relaciones de Arrecifes de Coral

Relationships within Coral Reefs

Recruitment Overfishing

Ecosystem Overfishing

Spawning aggregations of checkered snapper and blackspot snapper; seasonality, lunar-phase periodicity and spatial distribution within spawning ground (Scientific Paper)

Report on current status and exploitation history of reef fish spawning aggregations in Palau (Scientific Paper)

Spawning aggregation sites of snapper and grouper species and the insular shelf of Cuba (Scientific Paper)

Decadal analysis of larval connectivity from Cuban snapper spawning aggregations based on biophysical modeling (Scientific Paper)

IUCN Guidelines: Gathering of Fishers’ Knowledge for Policy Development and Applied Use (Protocol)

Prioritizing monitoring and conservation of efforts for fish spawning aggregations in the US Gulf of Mexico (Scientific Paper)

Timing and locations for reef fish spawning off the southeastern United States (Scientific Paper)

Data Collection and Finding in Spawning Special Management Zones (Presentation)

The Importance of Groupers and Sharks to the Ecosystem of Coral Reefs (Video)

Learn about the importance of top predators to the trophic chains of coral reefs.

Community Involvement in the Environmental Movement (Video)

Dive Operator, Brian Young, discusses the importance of community involvement to the success of local environmental movements.

Connectivity & Coral Reefs (Video)

Dr. Will Heyman discusses the importance of connectivity for global coral reef research and management.

Belize: A Case Study (Video)

This video documents the incredible partnership between decision-makers, marine scientists, and local fishers in Belize as they unite to manage and protect spawning aggregation sites.

Protecting and Managing Reef Fish Spawning Aggregations in the Pacific (Article)

Restoring Big Fish: Cooperative Research, Conservation, and Management Program for Spawning Aggregations in the Wider Caribbean (Protocol)

Emerging Science and Technology to Improve Monitoring and Assessment of Fish Spawning Aggregations to Report from the 2019 Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute Workshop (Protocol)

Nassau Grouper Web (Infographic)

Nassau Grouper, Past, Present, and Future (Infographic)

Nassau Groupers Are Critically Endangered (Infographic)

Report Fish Spawning Aggregations (Infographic)

Monitoreos Pesqueros (Protocol)

Manuel for the Study and Conservation of Reef Fish Spawning Aggregations (Protocol)

Management and Conservation of Reef Fish Important for Food (Protocol)

Reef Fish Spawning Aggregation Monitoring Protocol for the Meso-American Reef and the Wider Caribbean (Protocol)

Fish Spawning Aggregation Monitoring in the MARFish Network (Protocol)

Cooperative Research and Monitoring Protocols for Fish Spawning Aggregations in the Wider Gulf of Mexico (Protocol)

Protocolo de Agregaciones de Peces en México (Protocol)

Spawn Waltz (Video)

Enjoy the majestic dance of a snapper spawning aggregation.

Spawning Behavior (Video)

Dr. Will Heyman describes the unique spawning behaviors of snappers and groupers.

Spawning Aggregations (Video)

Dive into the spectacular phenomenon of spawning aggregations and learn why these productivity hotspot events are so important to the health of our oceans.

Two Minutes on Oceans w/ Jim Toomey: The True Value of Our Oceans (Video)

2-minute PSA about the uncounted economic benefits of the oceans. Oceans are not just about the seafood industry. The ocean provides transportation, tourism and recreation, as well as renewable energy,…

The dance of the groupers: Spawning aggregations, Quintana Roo (Video)

Introduction to the Nassau grouper spawning aggregations in the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve in Mexico.

Snapper Spawn Palau (Video)

Filmed in the turquoise waters of Palau, this spectacular short film directed by Dr Brad Erisman from Scripps Institution of Oceanography and Alfredo Barroso a world class videographer from Mexico brings…

Nassau (Video)

This video highlights the 40-year fishing career of fisherman Mr. Jack Young in Belize and the conservation efforts within the country to recover Nassau grouper.

Oceana Calls for “One Name for One Fish” for All U.S. Seafood (Video)

Fish names matter! Oceana's report: One Name One Fish makes the case that we should adopt species specific names for all seafood throughout the entire seafood supply chain. Watch this…

Nassau Grouper Spawning Aggregation Yucatan Mexico (Video)

Enjoy this short video montage of the 2016 spawning aggregation event in Punta Allen, Mexico.

Healthy Reefs for Healthy People (Video)

Smithsonian scientist Melanie McField leads Healthy Reefs for Healthy People (HR4HP), a multi-institutional effort to support conservation of the Mesoamerican Reef by tracking its health and making recommendations to policymakers…

How Conservation Efforts Help The Critically Endangered Nassau Grouper (Video)

This short video, led by Dr. Rick Nemeth (UVI) and Shaun Kadison (UVI) discusses their study of the spawning sites on the Puerto Rican Platue. The video discusses the threat…

Gigantes del pasado (Video)

In this video, we learn about the top predator fish species that live in Mexico's Pacific and Caribbean waters. Learn how you can contribute to the conservation of these important…

Finding Fish: the Search for Fish Spawning Aggregations (Video)

This video highlights the three-year project led by the scientific team of Isla Mar Research Expeditions and the University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez as they search for FSAs using environmental…

Fishing In St Croix (Video)

A video about fishing and life at sea in St. Croix. The Caribbean Fishery Management Council thanks to all the work team, to Geoambiente del Caribe, Inc., and all the…

Essential Fish Habitat Series (Video)

Educational series on Fish Habitats such as the Deep Mesophotic Reef, Estuary and River Mouth, Mangroves, Responsible Consumption, Sandy and Muddy Seabed, Seagrass Meadows, Shallow Water Coral Reef, and Water…

Azul Sin Fronteras (Video)

Conservation work of the Giant Seabass in Mexico prompts marine scientists to expand their studies outside of their country's territorial waters and leads to new discoveries for the species.