APPENDIX III APPENDIX III 
GULF STATES GROUNDFISH 
The Gulf States' groundfish consist principally of red 
snapper, grouper and croaker. All three are fOOds sai Sih», ) oui 
croaker also has industrial uses. Recreational fishermen 
heavily fish all three species. 
The major fishery is the red snapper and grouper, which 
is one of the oldest commercial fisheries in the gulf and 
one of the more valuable (fifth in Gulf States). 
The croaker industrial activity, which began around 
1952, produces a large volume of low-value fish, less than 
3 cents a pound. Croaker is considered to have one of the 
highest potentials for expansion and development in the gulf. 
RED SNAPPER AND GROUPER 
The red snapper and other similar snappers, together 
with groupers are caught in the same fishery on handlines 
(snapper reels) on offshore banks throughout the northern 
and eastern gulf and Campeche Grounds. 
At least 17 species of snappers and 15 species of group- 
ers are caught in this fishery, although not all species are 
caught on all parts of the grounds. The predominant species 
in the catch are the red snapper and the red grouper. At 
least 11 species of snappers caught in the gulf are marketed 
as red snapper, with additional species from the Caribbean 
Sea. Although snapper and grouper are the target of the 
handline fleet, many other species are also included in the 
bycatch. Squirrelfish and bigeye have been marketed as red 
snapper. 
Similar commercial landing patterns are expected for 
snapper and grouper, since both are usually fished with the 
same gear and at similar locations. In addition, the eco- 
nomic incentive for snapper fishing is expected to also in- 
fluence grouper landings. Red snapper is a more valuable 
species and thus increases the fishing effort for red snap- 
per, influences higher prices, and causes increases in group- 
er landings because of complementary production. 
The fishery is not regulated or managed. 
Snapper and grouper are bottom-living, slow-growing 
fish largely confined to the Continental Shelf. They are 
found most abundantly near rocky areas where nets are im- 
practical. 
As fishery pressure increased and the grounds initially 
and successfully fished became less productive, fishery ac- 
tivity expanded from the Gulf of Mexico into new areas. 
95 
