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Seafood Consumers

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Love is in the Water

We all play an important role in protecting and recovering coral reefs —both from home and while on vacation in the Caribbean. One way to do it is by protecting fish spawning aggregations of reef fish and consuming only sustainable seafood.

The most commercially important Caribbean fish gather once a year in special places of the reef to produce the next generation of fish. Unfortunately, these sites and the spawning seasons are not protected region wide.

The recovery of these species is crucial for the millions of people whose livelihoods depend on them, and are indispensable for other species and the health of the entire ecosystem. By protecting Big Fish, you protect coral reefs. And you can play a bigger part than you think. Show your love for the ocean and get involved.

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Let Spawning Fish off the Hook

Over the last 20 years, scientists and fishers have worked together to map and collect information on spawning sites. Working with other stakeholders, national and regional management plans have been drafted. Decision makers are listening and there’s progress on protecting these productivity hotspots throughout the Caribbean to secure the next generation of species in decline. In doing so, they all provide food security for millions of people and sustain local economies.

Now, it is up to us to support their work! The local and international community can significantly influence and contribute to ocean conservation in the wider Caribbean. You can make a difference by:

1) Driving demand for abundant fish species through conscious consumption in the Caribbean and beyond. You can learn about the different species, their reproductive seasons, and sustainable seafood alternatives here.

2) Encouraging and supporting decision-makers who work on the protection of targeted species. In doing so, we’re contributing to recovering big fish.

3) Volunteering for NGO’s or fisherfolk associations that are working in the Greater Caribbean to protect their local fisheries and marine ecosystems.

Watch out for these overfished reef fish

Meet the Species that Need Your Help

Learn about the unique characteristics and behaviors of these Caribbean fish species. All of them share the fascinating mating rituals that bring them together to reproduce. From the colorful mutton snapper to the critically endangered Nassau grouper, each fish has its own story to tell.

Dive into Fish Trivia

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Yellow Fin Grouper

Mutton Snapper

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Red Hind

Dog Snapper

Black Grouper

Nassau Grouper

Schoolmaster Snapper

Tiger Grouper

Goliath Grouper

Cubera Snapper

Shop Smart, & Do YourResearch Before Your Trip!

Local communities depend on the ocean for their livelihoods, so it’s important to understand the environmental and historical context of the food you eat. Seasonal closures are important in easing pressure off overfished species, and fishing bans during the spawning seasons are vital to recover Big Fish. Your awareness is key to make a difference when you travel to the Gulf of Mexico and the rest of the Greater Caribbean.

Please don’t purchase, recreational fish, or consume groupers, snappers or jacks during their spawning seasons. You can make informed consumption decisions by learning about each fish’s reproductive months, and choosing abundant and sostenible fish species at a restaurant, market, or grocery store. See below a list of species to eat during the spawning seasons (Alternative Species To Consume):

Alternative Species to Consume

Red Lionfish (Pterois volitans)

Red Lionfish are a non-native and invasive species that can negatively impact the ecology of coral reef habitats. Help control their population! There is no concern for overfishing, and there is an ample abundance of these fish in the Caribbean as they reproduce quickly throughout the year. Red Lionfish have red and white zebra stripes and long spines that must be removed before eating. 18 of these spines are venomous under the skin sheath: 13 dorsal, three anal, and one on each pelvic fin. They have a mild buttery flavor when cooked. Red Lionfish are delicate and flaky, great for dishes like ceviche, fish tacos, and stews.

White Grunt (Haemulon plumierii)

Named for the pig-like grunts they make by grinding specialized teeth of their hind jaws, you can find White Grunts on sand flats, mangroves, seagrass beds, and reefs. White Grunts are related to snappers, and their flavor is mild with flaky and white flesh. The taste is often compared to that of smaller snappers.

Atlantic Bonito (Sarda sarda)

Atlantic Bonito can swim up to 40 mph. They are mackerel-like with a primarily straight body, diagonal stripes on the back, and no stripes on the underside. Bonitos are strong-tasting fish that resemble the flavor of tuna. Still, they’re more like a cross between a mackerel and a tuna. The meat is less dense than tuna and is also oilier and fattier.

Wahoo (Acanthocybium solandri)

Wahoos are a coastal pelagic species that is found globally in tropical waters. They have long, cigar-shaped bodies, pointed snouts, and vertical bars along the body. Wahoo meat has a firm texture with white meat that’s mild and sweet tasting. Due to its delicate flavor, it’s often compared to other pelagic fishes like tuna, swordfish, and mahi-mahi. Wahoo also has low oil content, making it ideal for those who prefer less oily seafood.

Mahi-Mahi (Coryphaena hippurus)

Also known as Dolphin fish and Dorado, it grows quickly, matures early, and produces many eggs, supporting productive populations. These colorful fish lose their golden hues and turn silvery once removed from the water. Mahi Mahi is a favorite catch in both local fisheries and recreational angling. Mahi Mahi has lean flesh with a mild, sweet flavor profile, a moderately firm texture, and large, moist flakes. 

Yellowfin Tuna (Thunnus albacares)

Named for the bright yellow color of their fins, the torpedo-shaped Yellowfin Tuna are highly migratory and can breed year-round. They have a mild, meaty flavor similar to swordfish and are leaner than bluefin tuna. Yellowfin tuna meat is bright red in its raw state but becomes firm and moist with large flakes when cooked. Yellowfin is an excellent choice raw for sashimi and sushi.

Spanish Mackerel (Scomberomorus maculatus)

Like many fish on our list, the Spanish Mackerel is a coastal pelagic species known to migrate short distances. They journey through the ocean effortlessly, as they can swim about 12 miles per hour on average! The firm, dark flesh of the mackerel is fatty and rich with a strong, sweet flavor. Spanish Mackerel can be grilled, stewed, or fried. 

Little Tunny (Euthynnus alletteratus)

Little Tunny is a type of tuna that is steel blue on top and silver on the underside, with wavy stripes along the sides. Its meat is red and very bloody. When choosing a Little Tunny, the redder the meat, the fresher. Little Tunny is stronger-tasting than other tunas. It is best eaten marinated in citrus or seared.

Blackfin Tuna (Thunnus atlanticus)

Blackfin Tuna is a migratory species that creates large schools in the open ocean along with Skipjack Tuna. This fish has a bluish-black back, gray to silver sides, and a white underside, sometimes with iridescent patches on its sides. Blackfin tuna tastes similar to yellowfin tuna but is less fatty and has a darker meat color. Its mild flavor and tender texture make it a popular choice for sushi and sashimi.

Cero Mackerel (Scomberomorus regalis)

This coastal species is often found near the ocean surface. Cero Mackerel’s distinct coloring and bronze line along its body garnered the name “Painted Mackerel.” Cero Mackerel has leaner flesh and a more delicate flavor than most mackerels. This healthy choice of fish can be fried, grilled, seared, and even eaten raw as sashimi!

Need Help Cooking?

This recipe book originated from an idea presented by Diana Martino, CFMC Outreach and Education Coordinator, during an event at the Fishers Association in Ponce Playa, Ponce, Puerto Rico, for which Chef Juan Carlos Vicens prepared a set of plates using local seafood species not commonly used, especially depicting the lionfish.

The activity, which was one of various activities for the Sustainable Seafood Campaign, was a success, and the fishers and CFMC members present expressed that this could serve to promote the use of those species that are underutilized and not commonly used by the consumers.

Download Recipe Book
Nature

Treasure of the Caribbean

A story of hope in troubling times. The discovery of a coral reef in Belize and Guatemala, larger than the size of Manhattan, marks a new chapter in understanding corals and fish that depend on each other and in saving coral reefs worldwide.

Aired: 04/26/23 | Expires: 04/25/27 | Rating: TV-G

Watch Treasure of the Caribbean on Nature, PBSRequest a screening for your community

Language: Spanish

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FAQs

What are Fish Spawning Aggregations (FSA)? Why are they important?

A spawning aggregation is formed when fish group together for the sole purpose of spawning (=reproduction), with release of sperm and eggs.

Spawning aggregations should not confused with the better-known habit in fish of ‘schooling’, whereby large numbers of fish move, feed and live together for much of their life cycle (they may also reproduce in these groupings but since schools are not only for mating they are not considered to be ‘spawning aggregation’.) To learn more about direct and indirect observations to confirm that an aggregation only forms for spawning, go to SCRFA website.  https://www.scrfa.org/aggregations/what-are-aggregations/

The protection of these seasonal gatherings are key to maintain sustainable fisheries, because available information suggests that in most cases, those species that form spawning aggregations are not reproducing in other places and times, so the reproductive output of these species happens in these places at these times only. If we fish them before the spawning, we will be losing the next generation of fish. Also, if the aggregation doesn’t have enough individuals, the spawning may not happen or, if it does, the reproduction may not be successful.

How many different types of Fish Spawning Aggregations (FSA) are there?

There are two general types of spawning aggregations: “Resident” and “Transient”. Both types involve gatherings of fish at densities of at least 3 or 4 times more than during non-spawning periods.

Resident aggregations are formed by fish that travel short distances from their home areas or shelters to aggregation sites and assemble on a regular basis, sometimes almost daily, and often over extended periods throughout the year. Such species are generally small to medium in size. Aggregation formation may be associated with particular lunar phases.

Transient aggregations are typically formed by larger species physically able to travel greater distances, as much as tens or even hundreds of km. However a number of smaller species also mate in transient aggregations. These aggregations usually form for one to several months in the year and may last one to several weeks at a time.

What kinds of fishes reproduce by spawning aggregations?

Many very different kinds of fishes reproduce in manners that involve aggregations; not only warm-water reef fishes like snapper and grouper but also valuable cold-water fishes such as Atlantic cod.

Globally, over 200 species of marine fishes, representing over 40 families, reproduce by forming resident or transient spawning aggregations at specific times and locations. Many of the top species in global fisheries aggregate to spawn ranging from pollock,  cod, capelin, Atlantic mackerel, and including pilchard and herring species.

Over 100 reef fish species aggregate to spawn, including many groupers, snappers, porgies, surgeonfish, rabbitfish, parrotfish, mullets and wrasses. Many of the most commercially important species have this reproductive habit, highlighting the need for management to maintain the species and their fisheries.

 

–  [FAO] Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN. 2014. www.fao.org/3/a-i3720e.pdf

–  Rosemond et al. 2022. Frontiers in Marine Science https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2022.931409

–  Sadovy de Mitcheson. 2016. BioScience. https://academic.oup.com/bioscience/article/66/4/295/2464056

– SCRFA website. May 2024. https://www.scrfa.org/aggregations/what-are-aggregations/

What happens if we continue to fish, buy or consume these fish species during their reproductive seasons?

There are many examples of severe disruption to the populations of species whose spawning aggregations are overfished. A clear example is the critically endangered Nassau Grouper, once an abundant fishery species whose aggregations were targeted in the entire Caribbean region. Uncontrolled fishing of large concentrations of the most fecund individuals in a population greatly reduces the mature, spawning stock at local and potentially regional scales.

This leads to the extirpation of long-standing, once highly productive spawning aggregations. Not surprisingly, killing the maternal “geese that lay the golden eggs” is sustainable for no one.

To safeguard FSAs, which is better, spatial (Marine Protected Areas) or seasonal protection?

There are many categories of potential management tools including: catch limits (bag limits), seasonal limits, and spatial limits (MPAs). Many of the best conservation strategies involve multiple layers of protections: combinations of approaches can amplify success in often-changing fisheries.

Therefore, which approach is better can be very case-specific. For example a seasonal MPA may protect the aggregation at a certain site but what of the fishing impacts on the migratory paths to the aggregation which are not in the MPA? This is where a seasonal closure can co-amplify the value of a spatial-only management approach. In all cases, establishing trust and buy-in from local fishing communities is foundational to compliance and effective management.