Island Grouper
VU

Island Grouper

Mycteroperca fusca

DecliningVUEUVUEU

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mycteroperca_fusca

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

The Island Grouper faces severe pressure from intensive fishing activities throughout its limited range in the eastern Atlantic. Overfishing has dramatically reduced population sizes, particularly affecting larger breeding individuals that are preferentially targeted by commercial and recreational fisheries. The species' slow growth rate and late sexual maturity make it extremely vulnerable to fishing pressure, as populations cannot recover quickly from exploitation.

Threat summary

Habitat

The Island Grouper inhabits rocky reefs and coastal waters around oceanic islands in the eastern Atlantic, particularly around the Canary Islands, Madeira, and Cape Verde. It prefers depths ranging from shallow coastal areas to approximately 200 meters, favoring areas with complex rocky substrates that provide shelter and hunting grounds.

Marine intertidal· majorRocky areas· major

Conservation measures underway

Site/area protectionSpecies recovery

Other threatened species in EPINEPHELIDAE

VU

Dusky Grouper

Mycteroperca marginata

Declining
VU

Rooster Hind

Hyporthodus acanthistius

Declining
EN

Sailfin Grouper

Mycteroperca olfax

Declining
VU

Squaretail Coralgrouper

Plectropomus areolatus

Declining

Threatened in Canada

VU

Lepiota echinella

Unknown
EN

Nymphaea loriana

Declining
EN

Lake Lamprey

Entosphenus macrostoma

Unknown
VU

Paddlefish

Polyodon spathula

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Island Grouper classified as Vulnerable?
Island Grouper is classified as Vulnerable because the population is declining and the species faces a high risk of extinction in the medium-term future if current pressures continue. The Island Grouper faces severe pressure from intensive fishing activities throughout its limited range in the eastern Atlantic. Overfishing has dramatically reduced population sizes, particularly affecting larger breeding individuals that are preferentially targeted by commercial and recreational fisheries. The species' slow growth rate and late sexual maturity make it extremely vulnerable to fishing pressure, as populations cannot recover quickly from exploitation.
Where does Island Grouper live?
Island Grouper occurs in Canada, Cape Verde, Portugal, Senegal, and Spain. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Island Grouper?
The main threats to Island Grouper are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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