[kshe95girl]

Originally Posted by Ladywithafan

Who do I call?

Did a quick google search.... the Florida Restaurant Association and the Florida Attorney General would be the best places to start. The former is very vigilant about maintaining the quality of restaurants in Fl, and the latter is prosecuting cases like this as we speak. Go get 'em!

[Mom2Feebs]

Ask to see the fish before they cook it. Grouper should be firm, pinky-white. It does not look like catfish as it is much wider--catfish fillets tend to be narrow. Tilapia is the same and is very small and white. I could see where someone might get grouper confused with Mahi Mahi, though, as their fillets look very similar, but brush up on your grouper info and you will soon be able to tell. If the restaurant balks at your request, I'd be very skeptical!



Black grouper from Florida, currently around $16-$17 a pound

[kshe95girl]

Now you've done it, gotta go fishing this weekend to get some real grouper!

[sunrico90]

Background

Al species of grouper are regulated and managed by several federal and state agencies. The National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Marine Fisheries Service has fishery management councils throughout the United States and Caribbean. These fisheries management councils are responsible for harvests in federal waters and are specific to geographic areas. For example, grouper harvested in the Gulf of Mexico is regulated by the Gulf of Mexico Fisheries Management Council and in the South Atlantic by the South Atlantic Fisheries Management Council.

Harvest areas within nine miles of Florida’s Gulf of Mexico shoreline and three miles of our Atlantic Ocean shoreline are considered state waters. Waters beyond the nine- and three-mile limits and up to two-hundred miles are considered federal waters. Waters beyond two hundred miles are considered international waters.

Most grouper unloaded and sold in Florida are harvested in federal waters. Once they enter Florida waters and are unloaded, grouper are regulated and managed by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Office of Marine Fisheries Management.

To manage and protect U.S. and Florida grouper fisheries responsibly, these federal and state agencies perform stock assessments and, when necessary, prohibit the harvest of one or more grouper species. For example, in February 2007 the National Marine Fisheries Service prohibited the commercial harvest of five grouper species from February 15 through March 15. When the National Marine Fisheries service or one of its fisheries councils enacts a prohibition on grouper harvest or changes a regulation, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission follows suit.
Prices

Since 1997 the average dockside price per pound for grouper has increased more than 36 percent. The increase in price can be attributed to fuel and labor costs, vessel maintenance and limited supply. In addition, demand increases as more consumers become familiar with this popular seafood species.

The supply of grouper harvested in Florida over the last five years has decreased by over 3 million pounds. Several factors contributed to this decreased supply including periodic grouper fishery closures by one or more regulatory agency to manage the resource. Total allowable catch quotas for some grouper species are being met earlier than in years past. Once a quota is met, the fishery is closed until the new season opens. In addition, there are fewer fishermen catching grouper as evidenced by the decline in restricted species licenses over the past five years. The number of restricted species licenses, as required of grouper fishermen, has decreased by almost 1,500 during this time.

There are eight commercially viable species of grouper caught in Florida. Black and gag grouper are the most sought after and expensive; however there are many other grouper species that cost less and taste good.