photo by tiswango
A popular target for recreational and commercial fishing, the red grouper may have more to give to the world than just delicious meals. Scientists from the University of Florida have observed this fish cleaning sand from rocky areas, literally digging holes in the ocean floor so that other diverse sea creatures who are attracted to the rocks, such as coral and sponges, can live there. For this reason, they’re calling the red grouper “underwater architects.”
If the red grouper population starts to decrease, other marine life who depend on its cleaning practices could be negatively affected as well. Scientists and officials are realizing it may be time to rethink how we regulate fishing.
Source: Washington Post (click the link to see the red grouper in action)
