Grouper is NOT in Season in the state of Quintana Roo in Mexico from February 1st ,2017 until March 31st, 2017; so, in these days mentioned one can not (spear) fish for (Black) Grouper. In Spanish we say: Mero / Negrillo está en Veda. We think that is great! Grouper can be left to reproduce. In other words, nice for Grouper itself. Nice for snorkelers and scuba divers. And nice for fishermen; so that we can have fish for the future. Grouper Season in Mexico 2017, check out http://www.gob.mx/conapesca
“La veda del mero en la península de Yucatán se aplicará entre el 1 de febrero y 31 de marzo de 2017, es decir dos meses, merced al acuerdo de la SAGARPA publicado en el Diario Oficial de la Federación (DOF). La Secretaría de Agricultura, Ganadería, Desarrollo Rural, Pesca y Alimentación, con información técnica del INAPESCA, publicó el 14 de diciembre de 2016 en el Diario Oficial de la Federación el “Acuerdo por el que se modifica su similar, donde se establece veda para la captura de todas las especies de mero en las aguas de jurisdicción federal del Golfo de México, correspondiente al litoral de los estados de Campeche, Yucatán y Quintana Roo, publicado el 14 de febrero de 2007.”
It takes a long time for Grouper to reach maturity. Much longer than for example fish like Mahi Mahi and Triggerfish. This means that if a large number of mature Grouper adults are fished one year, it will take a long time before the Grouper population can return to normal. The size of the population can also be negatively affected if the fish are caught before they have had the chance to spawn. These characteristics combined with the relatively strong demand for Grouper fillet suggest that some measures simply had to be taken. Balance is the key!
Closing the season for Grouper means no one is allowed to fish Grouper in Quintana Roo for 2 months; so whatever type of fishing you do, spearfishing, bottom fishing or fishing from shore; there is a 100% closure (Veda). Quintana Roo is the state we live and spear fish in, with popular destinations like Cancun, Isla Mujeres, Puerto Morelos, Playa del Carmen, Riviera Maya, Cozumel, Puerta Aventuras, Tulum and Mahahual.
Black Grouper (Mero, Negrillo) in our area spawns each year around February and March at predictable times and in predictable places. So the Mexican Government decided to have a fixed annual closed Grouper season (Veda). That is only about 2 months in 2017 it lasts from February 1st until March 31st. We think that is great!
https://www.fishsource.org/stock_page/713
http://www.fishbase.org/summary/Mycteroperca-bonaci.html
Black Grouper can be left to reproduce. In other words, nice for Grouper itself. Nice for snorkelers and scuba divers. And nice for fishermen; so that we can have fish for the future.
When you are here in Mexico, living or on vacation, just don’t eat Grouper during closure. Do not buy it. Do not order it in a restaurant. You might be told “No worries, it is Black Grouper / Mero / Negrillo from before the Closure. We froze it during the Season”. Hey… don’t fall for it, don’t take the chance.
Fresh Grouper tastes so much better at the beginning of April, then frozen during closure. Something to look forward too!
Check out this, interesting read about conservation and aggregation of Black Grouper: http://www.scrfa.org/black-grouper.html
So ladies and gentlemen, please respect the Black Grouper / Mero / Negrillo Season / Closure / Veda 2017 here in Mexico, and please also respect that we respect it. When you specifically like spearfishing for Black Grouper, join us when the Grouper Season in Mexico opens again on April 1st, 2017.
Leo