What is Grouper Spotter?

Grouper Spotter is a groundbreaking platform powered by artificial intelligence and citizen science. Developed through a partnership between the Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF) and AI experts at ConservationX/Wild Me, Grouper Spotter uses advanced image recognition to track and monitor individual grouper fish based on their unique patterns.

Much like a fingerprint, each grouper has distinctive spots, bars, or camouflage patterns that remain consistent over time. By building a global database of grouper images, we can:

• Estimate population sizes using non-invasive, photo-based mark-resight methods
• Track individual movement and site fidelity
• Monitor growth and survival over time
• Improve conservation and fisheries management

Visit the platform at www.grouperspotter.org to submit images or explore the database.

Grouper Spotter
 

Why Focus on Grouper?

Many grouper species are vulnerable to overfishing due to their:

• Large body size and long lifespan
• Tendency to form predictable, dense spawning aggregations
• Economic and ecological importance on coral reefs

Despite their value, data limitations have hindered conservation efforts for groupers like the Nassau Grouper, which is listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN and Threatened under the U.S. Endangered Species Act.

By leveraging citizen science and AI, Grouper Spotter helps fill critical data gaps for groupers in the Caribbean, Pacific, and beyond.

How It Works

• Divers, snorkelers, and photographers submit grouper images to Grouper Spotter.
• AI software matches individuals based on their natural patterns.
• Matched sightings generate valuable data for scientists and resource managers.

This innovative approach replaces invasive tagging methods and will allow us to track individual fish over many years. 
This fish was photographed in 2013 to 2019 and grew 10 cm.

Expanding the Platform

While Nassau Grouper were our first focus, Grouper Spotter is now ready to support additional species:

• Camouflage Grouper 
• Goliath Grouper 
• Potato Cod 
• and more

We’ve also integrated REEFs global, searchable dive site database, ensuring anyone, anywhere, can contribute.

How You Can Get Involved

• Submit Your Photos: Every image helps grow the Grouper Spotter database. Submit to Grouper Spotter 
• Learn Best Practices: Review photo guidelines to ensure your images are useful for identification.
• Volunteer for AI Training: Contribute to marine conservation from home by helping train our AI models. Sign Up Here
• Spread the Word: Tell your friends to contribute photos!

Together, we can build awareness and a strong community for grouper conservation.

The Power of Citizen Science

REEF members and countless ocean enthusiasts worldwide, we can create an unparalleled imagery database to protect these vulnerable fish. Your photos and participation directly support conservation, research, and smarter management of grouper populations.

Collaborating Organizations

Images of other grouper species have been contributed as training datasets and uploaded to the platform be partner organizations, including Ocean Blue True Foundations, MarAlliance, Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Florida International University and Wildlife & Ecological Investments.  Location database and Camouflage Grouper images were supported through funding from the Ocean Blue Tree Foundation.
 

Interested in Collaborating or Supporting Grouper Spotter? Contact Us!

• Email: grouperspotter@REEF.org