Epinephelus bruneus

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

View Printer Friendly

Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	ACTINOPTERYGII	PERCIFORMES	EPINEPHELIDAE

Scientific Name:

Epinephelus bruneus

Species Authority:

Bloch, 1793

Common Name/s:

English

–

Kelp Grouper, Longtooth Grouper

Synonym/s:

Cepahlopholis moara (Temminck and Schlegel, 1842)

Epinephelus bruneus Bloch, 1793

Epinephelus brunneus Bloch, 1793

Epinephelus moara (Temminck and Schlegel, 1842)

Serranus moara Temminck and Schlegel, 1842

Taxonomic Notes:

E. bruneus was generally identified as E. moara (Heemstra and Randall 1993). Mis-spelt as E. brunneus in Chan (1968).

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Vulnerable A4d ver 3.1

Year Published:

2008

Assessor/s:

Thierry, C., Sadovy, Y. & To, A.W.L.

Reviewer/s:

Sadovy, Y. & Moss, K. (Grouper and Wrasse Red List Authority)

Contributor/s:

Justification:
Epinephelus bruneus is listed as Vulnerable on the basis of a decline of at least 30% in the southern half of its relatively narrow range. Bottom trawling within its habitat along the coast of China is intensive. Fishing pressure appears to be increasing and declines are inferred in other parts of its range. Across its range, there is little fisheries management, thus, further declines in abundance are inferred.

History:

2007

–

Vulnerable

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Epinephelus bruneus is narrowly distributed from the coasts of the Republic of Korea, Japan (north to Hegura-jima Island, 37°50’N), China (north to Shanghai, south to Hong Kong and Hainan Island), and Taiwan (Heemstra and Randall 1993).
Countries:	Native: China; Hong Kong; Japan; Korea, Republic of; Philippines; Taiwan, Province of China; Viet Nam
FAO Marine Fishing Areas:	Native: Pacific – northwest
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	General Little information is currently available for this species across most of its range, although it has been previously abundant in regional fisheries. The species is occasionally seen in local Hong Kong markets (Sadovy Y, pers. comm.). Abundance E. bruneus was one of the most abundant species in Hong Kong waters in 1968 (Chan 1968). E. bruneus was available in markets throughout the year, with highest abundance from October to May (Chan 1968). Wilson (2003) frequently observed E. bruneus on Hong Kong artificial reefs. Sadovy and Cornish (2000) later described E. bruneus as one of the rarest grouper in Hong Kong, especially for fish larger than 50 cm TL. Fishery-independent data Hong Kong Wilson (2003) stated that E. bruneus could be found on artificial reefs frequently. Sadovy and Cornish (2000) occasionally recorded E. bruneus during underwater observations (one 30 cm TL fish in a shallow coral area at about 3 m and a larger individual around large boulders at depth of 15 m). Fishery-dependent data No fishery-dependent data is available. No data are available on the sex composition or length-age relationship.
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Population:

General
Little information is currently available for this species across most of its range, although it has been previously abundant in regional fisheries. The species is occasionally seen in local Hong Kong markets (Sadovy Y, pers. comm.).

Abundance
E. bruneus was one of the most abundant species in Hong Kong waters in 1968 (Chan 1968). E. bruneus was available in markets throughout the year, with highest abundance from October to May (Chan 1968). Wilson (2003) frequently observed E. bruneus on Hong Kong artificial reefs. Sadovy and Cornish (2000) later described E. bruneus as one of the rarest grouper in Hong Kong, especially for fish larger than 50 cm TL.

Fishery-independent data
Hong Kong
Wilson (2003) stated that E. bruneus could be found on artificial reefs frequently. Sadovy and Cornish (2000) occasionally recorded E. bruneus during underwater observations (one 30 cm TL fish in a shallow coral area at about 3 m and a larger individual around large boulders at depth of 15 m).

Fishery-dependent data
No fishery-dependent data is available. No data are available on the sex composition or length-age relationship.

Population Trend:

Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	General E. bruneus inhabits rocky reefs and mud bottoms (Heemstra and Randall 1993). Adults can be found in depths of 20 to 200 m, while juveniles occur in shallow water (Heemstra and Randall 1993). The maximum size ofE. bruneus recorded is 136 cm TL (38 kg) (Jason Schratwieser, IGFA World Records, pers. comm. 12 Jan 2007). Spawning According to fishermen, does not take baits readily during summer and the gonads of E. bruneus are empty, indicating a “spent” (post-reproductive) condition (Chan 1968). No information is available on sexual pattern, fecundity or recruitment.
Systems:	Marine

Habitat and Ecology:

General
E. bruneus inhabits rocky reefs and mud bottoms (Heemstra and Randall 1993). Adults can be found in depths of 20 to 200 m, while juveniles occur in shallow water (Heemstra and Randall 1993). The maximum size ofE. bruneus recorded is 136 cm TL (38 kg) (Jason Schratwieser, IGFA World Records, pers. comm. 12 Jan 2007).

Spawning
According to fishermen, does not take baits readily during summer and the gonads of E. bruneus are empty, indicating a “spent” (post-reproductive) condition (Chan 1968).

No information is available on sexual pattern, fecundity or recruitment.

Systems:

Marine

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	The major threat to E. bruneus is fishing. The species is vulnerable to a wide range of gear types, including long-liners, trawlers and hand-liners (Chan 1968). Fishing on both juveniles and adults contributes to this threat.

Major Threat(s):

The major threat to E. bruneus is fishing. The species is vulnerable to a wide range of gear types, including long-liners, trawlers and hand-liners (Chan 1968). Fishing on both juveniles and adults contributes to this threat.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Not known to occur in any enforced marine protected areas. There are no specific conservative measures for E. bruneus. A more up-to-date stock assessment is crucial in determining abundance and population trends. More information on its stock, biology, age-and-growth and management practices is recommended.

Conservation Actions:

Not known to occur in any enforced marine protected areas. There are no specific conservative measures for E. bruneus.

A more up-to-date stock assessment is crucial in determining abundance and population trends. More information on its stock, biology, age-and-growth and management practices is recommended.

Citation:	Thierry, C., Sadovy, Y. & To, A.W.L. 2008. Epinephelus bruneus. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 25 May 2013.
Disclaimer:	To make use of this information, please check the <Terms of Use>.
Feedback:	If you see any errors or have any questions or suggestions on what is shown on this page, please fill in the feedback form so that we can correct or extend the information provided