Grouper, Red – US
Red Grouper are found in the western Atlantic from Massachusetts to southern Brazil but are most commonly found along the west coast of Florida to the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico. They are protogynous sequential hermaphrodites, meaning they begin life as females and transition to males between 7 and 16 years of age.
Abundance of Red Grouper is healthy in the Gulf of Mexico and overfished in the U.S. South Atlantic.
They are caught using bottom longlines and handlines, which have some impact on bottom habitat and catch moderate levels of bycatch.
This fish may have high levels of mercury that could pose a health risk to adults and children. More mercury info here.