Share your sightings!
Help Nature on St. Martin by spotting Nassau and Giant Groupers
In a call to diving visitors and residents, the French Side Réserve Naturelle (St. Martin Nature Reserve) has asked for support to look out for two rare species of groupers alongside the coast of St. Martin.
Over the past years, the European Union LIFE Program has dispersed support for two species with special conservations needs to the nature reserve. These are the Nassau grouper and giant grouper. The public is requested when they spot these rare species, to contact lesyeuxdesmerous@yahoo.com, with report of species and size of the fish, area where the grouper was spotted and date. If you made a picture of the grouper was spotted, please attach it to the e-mail.
Divers in St. Maarten can recognize the Nassau Grouper (Epinephelus Striatus) by its red brown skin, its sturdy forward-pointed body, its slightly inclined forehead, a black spot on its tail and five irregular transversal bkack stripes.
The Atlantic Giant Grouper (Epinephelus Itajara) can reach 2.5 meters. It can be recognized by a rounded tail fin, yellow green colors with black dots and a large flat head.
Help St. Maarten / St. Martin nature by letting the nature reserve know if you saw one whilst diving!