Brian is using lasers to measure the length of the spawning grouper! Great guesses everyone!
Grouper Education Program
Students helping protect a Caribbean Icon!
Brian is using lasers to measure the length of the spawning grouper! Great guesses everyone!
What pic will u enter now?
Well, I’m on the plane right now…so you’ll have to wait until this afternoon to see what’s next!!
Cool!
Why don’t they put the laser points at the head and the tail to measure? Why are they putting the lasers in the middle of the grouper?
I’m not sure. But that would be a good question to ask the scientists on Monday!
How big is that grouper?!
I don’t know for sure. But it is probably about 3 feet long.
Cool!
Do groupers look the same whether they have sperm or eggs in them? How do you tell the males from females?
Good question. Normally, it is difficult to tell the males from the females. However, when they are getting ready to spawn, the females get really big, fat, bellies. Because they are full of eggs.
I never knew that!
Do you know how many grouper are in the aggregation site right now??
I don’t know yet!! But, ask again on Monday!
Have you noticed any changes to the aggregation site from last year to this year?
I haven’t been out there yet…but ask again on Monday and I will know.
Are there more fish at the spawning aggregation this year than last year?
We won’t know that until they are done with their fish count. Ask the scientists on our web chat on Monday!
Have any of the fisherman tried to fish at the site yet?
I don’t think so!
“YAAAAAY!!!”
Are the groupers bigger or smaller than last year?
I don’t know yet. But that will be a good question to ask the scientists when we chat on Monday!
How many times does a grouper spawn in a lifetime?
They do not become reproductively active until they are about 7 years old. After that, they can spawn every year for the rest of their life. And Nassau Grouper can live to be in their 30’s!
Super cool!
Do groupers look different when they’re getting ready to go to the aggregation site?
In Grouper Moon, Cooper starts acting weird and goes to the cleaning station so he looks nice when he gets to the aggregation site.
Yes. Their color changes when they are on the SPAG. Often time, you will see them in their bi-color phase, which is black on top and white on the bottom. Its pretty cool!
When the groupers get to the aggregation site, can you see that they are getting nervous?
Good question. They are definitely acting differently then they normally would. But, I’m not sure if they are feeling nervous.
What’s the biggest grouper you’ve seen at the aggregation site this year?
Tomorrow is the first day I will be out on the aggregation site. So, I’ll get back to ya!!
What is the farthest distance a grouper has traveled to get to the aggregation site this year?
How many females have you counted this year?
The counting is still going on and will continue for a few more days. You should ask this question on Monday during our web chat!!
Do the groupers travel to the aggregation site in groups like in Grouper Moon?
Yes they do!! Good question!!
Has the grouper population gone down or up so far this year?
I have not been out to see the fish yet, so I will find out tomorrow. You should ask the researchers that question when we web chat on Monday too!!
When Nassau Grouper are on their home reef is it easy to tell if they are male or female?
How many grouper do you think are there right now?
Good question Kyle!! We are still counting…but there are certainly thousands out there!