A preliminary assessment of the status and habitat preference of the grouper (Serranidae) population of Chumbe Island Coral Park, Zanzibar, Tanzania

Abstract

A census of the six most commonly occurring grouper (Serranidae) species was conducted on Chumbe Island off the coast of Unguja, Zanzibar, Tanzania in late 2014.  The species were Plectropomus laevis, Cephalopholis argus, Cephalopholis miniata, Epinephelus fuscoguttatus, Aethaloperca rogaa and Anyperodon leucogrammicus. Results showed that, in general, larger individuals and species inhabit the deeper waters of the reef slope, while smaller species (and juveniles) inhabit the shallower back reef.  The combined, mean biomass recorded, derived from the mean biomass of all six species, was 43.96 kg over 12.5 ha, highly concentrated at the reef slope.