IUCN SSC Snapper, Seabream and Grunt Specialist Group
Overview and description
- Description:
-
This Specialist Group (SSG) works to advance the assessment of extinction risk and associated biological research on the over 550 reef and estuarine species in six families of marine fishes throughout ...
Group leadership
Dr Melita SAMOILYS
Steering Committee of the Snapper, Seabream and Grunt Specialist Group
- Dr Barry Russell, Red List Authority, Museum & Art Gallery of the N. Territory, Darwin, Australia
- Dr Annadel Cabanban, Conservation International, Manilla, Philippines
- Winston Cowie, Environment Agency, Abu Dhabi, UAE
- Dr Kafayat Fakoya, Lagos State University, Lagos, Nigeria
- Dr Rekha Nair, Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Kochi, India
- Dr Stephen Newman, Dept. Primary Industries & Regional Development, Perth, Australia
- Dr Ewusie Kofi Francis Nunoo, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
- Dr Jose Tavera Vargas, Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia
- Dr Monica Valle, Marine Resources Assessment Group, Florida, USA
More about the Specialist Group
Hundreds of species of snappers, seabreams, grunts, threadfin breams, emperors and fusiliers inhabit tropical and warm temperate coastal regions, providing billions of dollars in seafood and other ecosystem services on coral reefs and in estuaries. However, many species are subject to heavy fishing mortality as well as habitat loss and potential effects of climate change. Management is further complicated by identification challenges, a common absence of species-specific fishery data, and still-changing species and genus names.
The SSG SG is a large group of scientific and management experts working in over 30 countries to achieve sustainable use of these diverse coastal fishes through the processing of complex taxonomic and phylogenetic challenges, population assessment research, and policy actions that engage communities in decision-making. This work takes many forms, for example: completing the first IUCN Red List assessments of over 550 species, and determining bycatch impacts in select regions.
Key features
- they can inhabit almost every estuarine and coastal marine habitat in shallow tropical through temperate areas of the globe
- they are some of the most iconic coastal fisheries on the planet: many species are sold as “red snapper” and several hundred others are also caught for food
- they are taken by diverse fishing gears including various types of traps, nets, longlines, spears, hook and line, and trawls
- evidence suggests many species are subject to heavy fishing pressure, habitat loss, and ...
The April 2024 Red List total of all species are in the adjacent SSG Species Table.
Phylogenetic information on some taxa within these families is not fully resolved.
The numbers provided are estimates based on the latest information.
Image credits:
- Dentex hypselosomus Bleeker, 1854, Yellowback sea-bream, Japan. Image: Masato Shiina, Uwajima Fisheries High School, Japan.
- Anisotremus surinamensis, (Bloch, 1791), Black Margate, W. Atlantic. Image: S. Atl. Fish. Management Council.
- Lutjanus guilcheri, Fourmanoir, 1959, Yellowfin red snapper, Indian Ocean. Image: FAO.
- Nemipterus bathybius, Snyder, 1911, Yellowbelly threadfin bream, Western Pacific. Image: Chinese Academy of Fisheries Sciences, Information Center.
- Lethrinus conchyliatus, (Smith, 1959), Red-axil emperor, Indo-West Pacific. Painting: R. Swainston, courtesy of FAO.
- Pterocaesio capricornis, Smith & Smith, 1963, Capricorn fusilier, Western Indian Ocean. Painting: P. Lastrico, courtesy of FAO.
Specialist Group work
The Snapper, Seabream and Grunt Specialist Group (SSG SG) has 18 targets within the IUCN 2021-24 quadrennium. The highest priority target areas include: Red List assessments of species from six coastal fish families; applied Policy Actions to sustain populations and species.
Red Listing of over 550 Coastal Fish Species
To inform conservation efforts, many experts have worked with the SSG SG to assess species extinction risk for the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. With over 400 species completed, we are focused on completing the last 18% of species to finish the first-ever assessment of all species.
Conservation Through Bycatch Reduction, Spawning Site Protection and Other Priorities
Species conservation findings are applied to priorities including regional by-catch reduction, protection of SSG spawning aggregation sites using research and training, applications of fishers’ knowledge, regional identification guides, and other priorities.
Applied Policy Actions to Sustain Populations and Species
To apply results from species Red List assessments and related research, we engage with diverse partners including universities, governments, fishers, and non-profits. We are expanding our website and other communication outlets to advance best practices in fishing and habitat management.
2022 SSG SG Annual Report
Learn about SSG’s work and results in 2022.
Previous reports:
2021 SSG SG Annual Report
2020 SSG SG Annual Report
2019 SSG SG Annual Report
2018 SSG SG Annual Report
2016-2017 SSG SG Annual Report