The Regional Government of the Azores, in particular the Regional Secretariat for the Sea and Fisheries, has been monitoring the Meros (Epinephelus marginatus) population in its natural environment after observing individuals with changes in behavior and macroscopic changes in their morphology (e.g. spots, scaling and abdominal distension).

The sightings took place in the first week of September and have a particular incidence off the islands of Flores and Corvo, recently extending to islands in the central group.

The Regional Secretariat is calling on the Azorean community, especially users of the marine environment, to help gather information on this phenomenon by reporting sightings of fish in these circumstances.

To this end, a form has been made available online to record these observations, including the geographical position:https://e-form.azores.gov.pt/formulario/447.

At the same time, a multidisciplinary working group will be set up, coordinated by the Regional Fisheries Directorate, with various experts and local entities with different competencies, to analyze and critically debate this phenomenon, in order to obtain the best decision support for the management of this emblematic resource of the Azores Sea.

Considering that the grouper fishery will reopen on October 1 (it has been closed since August 8), it is justified, for reasons of public interest, to adopt various precautionary management measures for the resource, and the Regional Government of the Azores has decided to temporarily ban the catching, keeping on board, transhipment, unloading and sale of the Mero species.

The ban has already been published in the Official Journal of the Azores.

Translated to English as a community outreach program from the Portuguese Beyond Borders Institute (PBBI) and the Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures Department (MCLL) as part of Bruma Publication and ADMA (Azores-Diaspora Media Alliance) at California State University, Fresno, PBBI thanks Luso Financial for sponsoring NOVIDADES.