Mike Norberg diving subsequent to a Goliath grouper. Picture by Mike Norberg.
Image your self descending a whole bunch of toes beneath the ocean’s floor, when instantly, you come head to head with an unlimited 800-pound fish. This breathtaking encounter is precisely what our Nice Goliath Grouper Rely (GGGC) volunteers corresponding to Mike Norberg get to expertise, throughout his yearly participation within the citizen science diving program.
The GGGC program supplies a snapshot of goliath grouper abundance and dimension distribution at surveyed reef websites throughout a large geographic space, due to partnerships with organizations like Florida Sea Grant, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Fee (FWC), and county companions just like the Okaloosa County Coastal Useful resource Group.
Mike’s journey with the GGGC started in 2021 when he joined the group as a coordinator. He and his group immersed themselves in numerous initiatives, from deploying synthetic reefs to conducting marine analysis on sea turtles and lionfish.
As a coastal coordinator, Mike and others on the group play a pivotal position within the GGGC, dedicating their time, experience, and keenness to marine life.
“Information on the Gulf of Mexico, particularly within the Panhandle area, is noticeably scarce. This presents a golden alternative to take part in knowledge assortment actively, witness Goliath groupers of their pure habitat, and contribute to significant analysis,” says Mike.
Regardless of 26 years of diving and three years of conducting surveys with the GGGC, each encounter with a Goliath grouper stays monumental for him.
“We’ve noticed quite a few Goliath groupers off the shores of Destin-Fort Walton Seaside, starting from juveniles to spectacular adults measuring as much as 5 toes. Throughout one dive, we noticed 4 Goliaths of varied sizes, considered one of which was a whopping 5 toes lengthy. Being part of this program permits me to focus my efforts on one thing I might not have earlier than.”
