Mero

Q: Can you eat Mero?

Firm, flaky white flesh with a mild, sweet flavor; harvest is heavily restricted or banned throughout most of its range due to Vulnerable status. Catch-and-release strongly encouraged.

Q: How big does Mero get?

Mero can grow up to 250.0 cm long and weigh 363.0 kg.

Q: Where is Mero found?

Tropical western Atlantic from Florida and the Gulf of Mexico through the Caribbean Sea to Brazil, and eastern Pacific from the Gulf of California to Peru. Congregates in shallow reef habitats, mangroves, and rocky ledges. Neritic, coral reefs, estuaries

Q: Is Mero endangered?

The conservation status of Mero is Vulnerable according to the IUCN Red List.

Q: What family does Mero belong to?

Mero (Epinephelus itajara) belongs to the family Epinephelidae in the order Perciformes/Serranoidei.

Abstract

The largest grouper in the Atlantic, the goliath grouper is a massive reef-dweller reaching 2.5 metres and over 360 kilograms. Yellow-brown and densely peppered with dark spots, it haunts shallow reefs, mangroves, and rocky ledges from Florida and the Gulf of Mexico through the Caribbean to Brazil, with an eastern Pacific population as well. It can engulf large prey whole and produces a distinctive booming sound by contracting muscles against its swim bladder to warn off intruders and divers. Heavily depleted by past overfishing, it is assessed as Vulnerable, and harvest is restricted or banned across much of its range, making catch-and-release the norm. Juveniles depend on mangrove nurseries.