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Florida Upholds Ban on Killing Goliath Grouper

The FWC rejected a limited harvest of the iconic, critically endangered grouper
By Andy Zunz | Updated On April 27, 2018
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Florida Upholds Ban on Killing Goliath Grouper

scuba diving with goliath grouper

Goliath grouper have been protected in Florida after reaching the brink of extinction three decades ago.

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The Florida Fish Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission decided against a limited harvest of goliath grouper, upholding a 28-year ban.

The FWC considered a proposal to hold a limited harvest of 100 goliath grouper per year, but decided not to pursue it based on research of the current population and feedback from residents and local operators.

“Based upon the data and the science presented, I just don’t see that it’s viable to even attempt a limited harvest at this stage,” said Michael Sole of the FWC to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

Local anglers argue that a limited harvest of the grouper — which is considered critically endangered by the IUCN — would be a positive. Proponents of the harvest say that the goliath grouper has completely rebounded since reaching the brink of extinction in the 1980s and that the massive fish steals other fish off their lines and clears the area with its large appetite.

Local dive operators argue that the fish is a main attraction for their business, and opening a harvest for the vulnerable species would set the community back decades.

The FWC says it received more than 5,000 comments and hosted 16 in-person workshops to get a clear picture of the public’s view. The discussion triggered international support from the dive community for the FWC to uphold the ban.

"We have to get the power of the people to overwhelm those who want to kill these creatures," said famed conservationist Sylvia Earle in an interview with Scuba Diving last year. "Why would it be fun to kill a creature like that? Once we thought the only good shark was a dead shark, now we know better. Goliaths don't have choices — we have choices."

Here’s a look at how some key figures in the dive world reacted to the announcement: