6 Commercial Grouper Species in Indonesia

kelolalaut.com - Grouper are medium sized fish that belong to Serranidae family in the subfamily Epinephelinae. The common name of grouper is usually given to fish in one of two large genera: Epinephelus and Mycteroperca. Grouper fish typically have large mouth and stout body. 

According to 5th edition of Fishes of the World, there are over 200 species of grouper. That’s a large number of species, so we will look at some species that have been commercially sold in Indonesia. Here are the list: 

Read also: What is Needlefish?

1.    Brown-Marbled Grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus)
Brown-marbled grouper can reach the maximal length of 120 cm and maximal weight at 11 kg. They can be found in the lagoon, outer reef slopes, and coral area with clear waters. Their juvenile lives on seagrass bed. They feed on fishes, crabs, and cephalopods. 

2.    Bridled Grouper (Epinephelus heniochus)
Bridled grouper is a marine fish that can be found in depth range from 40 metres to 235 metres. This fish is a demersal and non-migratory fish, which means they will feed and live in the near bottom of the sea. Bridled grouper can reach maximum length of 35 cm. This species seems to like soft sedimentary bottom, like mud substrate.

3.    Malabar Grouper (Epinephelus malabaricus)
Malabar grouper can grow up to over 2 metres long and 150 kg in weight, but the common size of this fish is 100 cm. This fish can be found in marine to brackish water environment, in depth range from 0 to 150 m. Their juveniles live in near shore and estuaries. This species also has been widely used in mariculture activity.

Read also: 6 Benefits on Consuming Anchovies

4.    Speckled Grouper (Epinephelus magniscuttis)
Speckled grouper can grow to maximal length at 150 cm and maximal published weight is 50 kg. This fish can be found in reef area within deep 50 to 300 metres. 

5.    Camouflage Grouper (Epinephelus polyphekadion)
Camouflage grouper can grow up to 90 cm long, and found most abundant around islands particularly atolls within 1 to 46 m deep. Their diet mainly consists of crustacean and fishes, sometimes they will eat gastropods and cephalopod as well. Camouflage grouper often confused with the Brown-Marbled Grouper.

6.    Giant Grouper (Epinephelus lanceolatus)
Giant Grouper of often called as Queensland Grouper can grow to maximum length at 270 cm with maximal weight published is 400 kg, their common length is 190 cm. This species is considered as the largest bony fish found in coral reefs. In Indonesia Giant Grouper is mostly bred through mariculture.

Read also: Spearfishing Equipment You Might Needed