THE GROUPER MOON PROJECT
A collaborative conservation program between REEF and
the Cayman Islands Department of the Environment

What is it?  | Yearly Project Summaries | Published Results | 
Video of Spawning | Project Collaborators

Grouper Moon Acoustic Research Project Webpage
How effective are no take areas on spawning grounds?  -  A research project initiated in 2005

What is the Grouper Moon Project?
Normally solitary and territorial, during the winter full moons grouper travel, sometimes over great distances, and “group” together to spawn. About fifty of these spawning aggregations sites have been recorded in different places throughout the Caribbean. Historically, once discovered, grouper aggregation sites have become synonymous with fisherman aggregation sites. Due to the timing and site fidelity of the spawning aggregations and the ease with which these relative loners can be caught while congregating by the hundreds and thousands to spawn, one-third to one-half of the known Caribbean aggregation sites are now inactive. The Cayman Islands used to be home to five Nassau grouper (Epinephelus striatus ) spawning sites. Today, four of these sites are dormant or depleted. But one site, on the west end of Little Cayman Island, is home to one of the last great reproductive populations of this endangered species.

In the Winter of 2002, REEF launched a ground breaking expedition to the Cayman Islands - the Grouper Moon Project.  The Project’s objectives were to observe the Nassau grouper spawning aggregation off the western tip of Little Cayman, and to develop a protocol for monitoring their numbers and activity at the site. For two weeks, a team of divers from REEF and the Cayman Islands Department of Environment visited the aggregation site and nearby reefs.  Since that first year, REEF has coordinated annual efforts to monitor and study the Little Cayman Nassau grouper aggregation.  The project has grown in scope to include an ambitious acoustic tagging research project, juvenile habitat and genetics studies, and early results have been published in the scientific literature.

A wide-angle view of the aggregation in 2003. Photo by Phil Bush, click to view a larger version.	Showing the different spawning colorations seen in Nassau grouper. Photo by Phil Bush, click to view a larger version.

Published Results

Whaylen, L., P.G. Bush, B.C. Johnson, K.E. Luke, C.M.R. McCoy, S. Heppell, B. X. Semmens, and M. Boardman.  2006 Aggregation dynamics and lessons learned from five years of monitoring at a Nassau grouper (Epinephelus striatus) spawning aggregation in Little Cayman, Cayman Islands, BWI.  57th Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute Meeting Proceedings (PDF)
This paper summarized the first five years of monitoring of the Little Cayman West End aggregation, including a summary of spawning activity, total numbers of fish present at the aggregation each year, coloration, and behavior.

Semmens, B.X., K.E. Luke, P.G. Bush, C.M.R. McCoy, and B.C. Johnson. 2006. Isopod infestation of post-spawning Nassau grouper around Little Cayman Island.  Journal of Fish Biology 69: 933-937 (PDF)
This paper documents attacks by the isopod Excorallana tricornis tricornis on Nassau grouper caught in Antillian fish traps during the post-spawning season of Spring 2005.  Fish were being trapped in order to acoustically tag individuals from sites around Little Cayman Island in order to better understand what percentage of reproductive-size individuals attend the aggregation each year. The paper discusses the apparent energetic costs associated with spawning.

This work was also presented as a posted at the 56th Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute Meeting in 2005, and a summary of the poster is posted online. (POSTER)

B.X. Semmens, K.E. Luke, P.G. Bush, C.V. Pattengill-Semmens, B. Johnson, C. McCoy and S. Heppell. 2005. Investigating the reproductive migration and spatial ecology of Nassau grouper (Epinephelus striatus) on Little Cayman Island using acoustic tags – An Overview. 56th Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute Meeting Proceedings. (PDF)
This paper provides an overview of the acoustic tagging project that was initiated on Little Cayman Island in 2005.  The project aims to better understand the sphere of influence that a spawning aggregation has on the island's population of Nassau grouper, as well the impact of harvest protections on local fish densities.

Whaylen, L., Pattengill-Semmens, C.V., Semmens, B.X., Bush, P.G. and M.R. Boardman. 2004. Observations of a Nassau Grouper (Epinephelus striatus) Spawning Aggregation Site In Little Cayman, Including Multi-Species Spawning Information. Environmental Biology of Fishes.  70: 305-313. (PDF)
This paper summarizes the findings from the 2002 REEF Grouper Moon Project, which documented the characteristics of a newly discovered Nassau grouper spawning aggregation.

VIDEOS click on thumbnail to download
	Grouper Moon Project - a view of the Nassau grouper spawning aggregation documented in January 2002 by the REEF Grouper Moon Project in Little Cayman (5 MG, 2 minutes - QuickTime) Apple QuickTime is freely distributable software, click on the logo to download.:
	Cleaning Station at the Aggregation - During the February 2006 aggregation, we placed stationary cameras on two active cleaning stations for one hour intervals during the day in order to record behavior and cleaning station activity.  A compilation of time-lapse video from a cleaning station, sped up 2x actual speed, -- the video represents approximately 10 minutes over two days at one large sponge that served as an active cleaning station on the Little Cayman West End aggregation site.  The Nassau grouper are seen flashing various colorations during their attempts to be in the primary cleaning location in the sponge.  In addition to Nassau grouper, yellowfin grouper and tiger grouper occasionally show up to be cleaned (but rarely are allowed access for more than a few moments).  (Windows Media Player, 12 MB)
All videos are currently saved for fast connection speeds (ISDN/Cable Modem/DSL).

Grouper Moon Collaborators and Sponsors
The Grouper Moon Project is a collaboration between REEF and the Cayman Islands Department of the Environment.  REEF extends a huge thanks to the CIDOE staff for their tireless efforts, including Phil Bush, Croy McCoy, Kirsten Luke, and Bradley Johnson.  The Grouper Moon Project has continued through the years empowered by the first year’s success and the passion of project leader Leslie Whaylen.

REEF volunteer project team members have included: Mark Boardman, Denise Mizell, Paul Masaki, Judie Clee, Doug Harder, Ed Steiner, Franklin Neal, Alex Score and Brenda Hitt.  Scott and Selina Heppell from Oregon State University started assisting with various Grouper Moon research projects in 2005.

Generous logistical support has been provided by Peter Hillenbrand, as well as by local dive operators the Southern Cross Club, Sam McCoy’s Diving Lodge, the Little Cayman Beach Resort and Pirate's Point Resort.  Funding for the acoustic work is provided by the NOAA International Coral Reef Conservation Program and PADI Project AWARE.  Raymarine Marine Electronics donated RADAR equipment to assist the CIDOE in their enforcement efforts.  Additional funding has been provided by Ken Sinibaldi and Clive and Stella Wood.

During the 2003 project, additional support was provided by David Nadeau, Island Air, Nauticus National Maritime Center, Hungry Iguana/Paradise Villas, Henri Fourie, Max McCord.  North Carolina State University researchers included Alan Mack, Dr. David Eggleston, Dr. Peter Rand, Chris Taylor, and Eric Henningsen.  During the 2002 Grouper Moon Project additional support was provided by the Coral Reef Alliance and Paradise Villas.