Status Review of the Gulf Grouper (Mycteroperca jordani)

This status review of the gulf grouper (Mycteroperca jordani) will be presented in six sections. Section one (Introduction) will discuss the purpose and layout of the status review. Section two (Taxonomy and biology of the gulf grouper) will discuss grouper family characteristics and a general description of the gulf grouper. Section three (Natural history of the gulf grouper) discusses the population structure, distribution, habitat, abundance, diet, reproduction, and mortality of the gulf grouper. Section four (Threats to the gulf grouper) discusses the environmental and human threats to gulf grouper. Section five(Existing regulatory mechanisms) discusses the local and federal laws and regulations that protect and/or degrade gulf grouper survival. Section six (Extinction risk analysis for the gulf grouper) synthesizes the biology, threats, and regulations to determine extinction risk to the gulf grouper.